CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton John Wishart (Photo: TDCB)
On Wednesday, Ontario tabled a provincial budget with billions of dollars put towards pandemic relief for businesses.
Less than a day later, Nova Scotia released a plan for their fiscal year to help reduce the burden on businesses.
Meanwhile, in New Brunswick, businesses keep their fingers crossed that if a third wave of COVID-19 does occur, the federal government will provide financial assistance.
“Disappointing but perhaps not surprising,” says John Wishart, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton.
Wishart believes that it has become a growing trend for New Brunswick businesses to be the odd man out on a provincial level.
“The Federal government has come to the table with wide and deep programs… provincially there aren’t too many examples of direct support,” says Wishart.
He acknowledged the renewal of the travel incentive but questioned the restrictions for New Brunswick’s small business grant program.
Instead, Wishart pointed to the second round of grants for small businesses included in Ontario’s budget as a program that could benefit New Brunswickers.
Although Ontario has encountered more advanced restriction measures, Wishart would argue that some New Brunswick sectors have faced the same issues.
“I think that you could say in certain sectors like tourism and hospitality, restaurants, retail and airports that they probably are due similar treatment,” he said while making a case for small business grants.
Now with the province battling the COVID-19 variants and facing what could be a third wave, there’s even more reason for concern.
“It begs the question should the province have a plan B to support businesses if we don’t pull out of this as early as we hope,” says Wishart.
