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All Levels of Government Need to Work Together to Stop the Virus

Ontario Chamber calls for clear, consistent communication

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Media Release

All Levels of Government Need to Work Together to Stop the Virus

February 19, 2021

(Toronto – February 19, 2021) – Today, Rocco Rossi, President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce released the following statement in response to the Government of Ontario’s decision to extend the shutdown and stay-at-home orders:

“We call for clarity on concrete milestones that trigger lockdown or extension. Many business owners are struggling to wrap their heads around requirements and health protocols and scrambling to hire, re-hire, or lay-off staff to no fault of their own. There is no easy on or off switch for employers; the lack of predictability and clarity in government decisions makes it difficult for businesses to plan effectively and invest in the necessary infrastructure for a safe re-opening. Ultimately, business owners and their workers are the collateral damage from misalignment between regional public health units and different orders of government.

“We are at an inflection point and getting this right is critical. As we have said from the outset of the crisis, prioritizing public health is our best long-term economic strategy. You cannot restart the economy without control of the virus, particularly with consumer confidence at an all time low and new strains of the virus aggressively spreading across Ontario.

“A new spike in cases could trigger another full provincial lockdown, prolong the crisis, and further depress consumer confidence. That is why clear and consistent communication and guidelines will be critical determinants of the plan’s, and by extension Ontario’s, success.”

-30-

About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.

For more information, please contact:
Ceara Copps – Edwards
Manager, Public Affairs
cearacoppsedwards@occ.ca| Mobile: (647) 936-6734

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