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Ottawa’s beleaguered small businesses are accepting the latest toughening of provincial pandemic restrictions with a mix of fatalism and frustration.
Among the most disappointed entrepreneurs were restaurateurs who as of Saturday must shut their patios as well as their dining rooms. The eateries had been expecting a shift from red zone restrictions to tougher grey zone measures, which would have halted indoor dining but allowed outdoor dining. But Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said Thursday that the province-wide “emergency brake shutdown,” which is to begin Saturday and last at least 28 days prohibits patio dining.
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Posted: Mar 17, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: March 17
Lee Demarbre owns the Mayfair Theatre, a cinema on Bank Street. It will be the fourth time the theatre has been forced to close if Ottawa moves into the red zone. (Jonathan Dupaul/CBC)
Author of the article: Peter Hum
Publishing date: Mar 15, 2021 • March 15, 2021 • 1 minute read • “Though we put on a brave face, most of us are masking mountains of debts and hanging on by a thread, Harriet Clunie, the chef of Das Lokal in Lowertown, said in a statement. In order to stay open, we’ve had to rack up debt, but there have been zero profits. We’re running out of steam, we’re running out of ideas and we’ve run out of money.” Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
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The Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas is throwing its weight behind a proposal that Canada’s pandemic-ravaged hospitality businesses receive help with their taxes until restaurants can fully open their dining rooms.