Ontario Chamber Calls For Moratorium on Commercial Evictions

(Toronto – May 1, 2020) – Today, Rocco Rossi, President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce released the following statement:

“We implore our federal and provincial leaders to immediately execute an order to block commercial evictions for a period of two weeks.

“The development of a program to provide rent assistance and the cooperation between levels of government is positive. However, the challenge faced by small businesses today is immediate. It is good that help is on the way, but for an increasingly large number of small businesses the time they are being asked to wait will result in permanent closure. The delay in program implementation, when combined with delays in other programs such as the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), will tragically lead to May 1 rent payments pushing some small businesses over the financial cliff.

“A moratorium on evictions will allow the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation the time required to implement the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program, as well as time for CEWS money to begin flowing. The pause will, simply put, give our small businesses the time they need to catch their collective breath.

“Small business drives our economy, employs millions of Canadians, and has done so much to support our communities. In this dire moment, we must have their backs.”

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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:
Michelle Eaton
Vice President, Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
michelleeaton@occ.ca or 647-261-4594