Following the month-long government protest in Ottawa, the Ontario government has announced that it will be offering local businesses affected by the blockades up to a total of $11.5 million in financial support.
Through this new program, eligible businesses can apply for grants of up to $5,000 to help pay for non-deferrable operating expenses incurred during the occupation, a government release said. The funding will include a $10 million grant administered by Invest Ottawa.
According to the Ontario government, more information on the application process and eligibility criteria will soon be made available on the Invest Ottawa website.
“The illegal blockades in downtown Ottawa this winter caused significant financial losses for local businesses,” said Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries Lisa MacLeod. “Our government is supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs by providing the relief they need to recover quickly. Today’s announcement will help Ottawa — and the small businesses at the heart of our community — get ready to welcome visitors for the spring and summer tourist seasons.”
“For weeks, the city of Ottawa was under siege from an illegal blockade, impacting business owners and workers through no fault of their own,” added Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy. “Our government has always stood with hard-working Ontario small business owners, and we have committed to supporting the City of Ottawa and to helping businesses recover.”
The government’s financial assistance program comes after various officials and business groups in the region have requested support.
"[Businesses] are being further burdened because of these demonstrations, many of them having to completely close," Ottawa Board of Trade CEO Sueling Ching told CBC News. "There are no programs in place to support them and this is through no fault of their own."
The Retail Council of Canada reported that the Rideau Centre, which remained closed since January 29, had been losing about $3 million in sales per day – it was losing millions even before the protests began, the council pointed out.
