MPP Arthur calls for immediate expansion of small business grants

QUEEN’S PARK - Doug Ford must act immediately to expedite and expand the Ontario Small Business Grant to ensure the survival of struggling small businesses in Kingston and across Ontario, said MPP Ian Arthur (Kingston and the Islands), the NDP’s critic for Small business recovery and Reopening Main Street.

“Small businesses owners are worried they won’t survive the pandemic while big box stores report skyrocketing profits,” said Arthur. “They are also struggling to access the Ontario Small Business Grant, which although welcome is miniscule, compared to need and excludes more businesses then it includes.”

Arthur told the legislature that small business owners like Mohamed, who owns a restaurant in Hastings, Lennox and Addington, have been left hanging on a thread, waiting more than a month for the small business grant, while the grant waitlist has ballooned to over 100,000 and processing times have ground to a crawl. Approved businesses should be receiving payment in 10 business days.

“Mohamed, who owns the Jiffy Grill, has grown increasingly frustrated. He has waited 38 days after he applied in January, and after our office reached out the ministry five times, to finally hear his application had been approved. But he still hasn’t receive the funds,” said Arthur.

“Can the minister please explain why Mohamed is being left to wait for so long when his situation is so urgent?”

Arthur said the Ford government’s business grant is failing to help many businesses by excluding those that have been hit hardest and longest since the beginning of the pandemic.

“The Ford government designed a program that obligates them to help as few businesses as absolutely possible, even as Ontario small business are struggling more than in other provinces,” said Arthur. “It’s clear so much more needs to be done now to help small businesses during this pandemic.

“Will the government, right now, commit to expanding the criteria, increasing the funding level, and renewing the grant for another round this spring?”