Business support and the economy was the focus of the latest City of Delta virtual town hall Thursday morning.
Yvonne Anderson, chair of the Delta Chamber of Commerce was the special guest joining Mayor George Harvie and Delta police Chief Neil Dubord for the fifth session since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Anderson said the chamber and its chamber network across the province as well as across Canada are working hard to ensure that businesses large and small get the support they need.
“Our Canadian Chamber works with the federal government and we have been working hard with them to get these supports in place, but we are also working hard on recovery,” said Anderson. “Recovery…it will come. Delta Chamber represents all businesses in Delta and we are pleased to be a part of the economic recovery task force right here in Delta. We need to work at all levels for economic recovery.”
Anderson said the Chamber has a fulsome area on its website with links and information on all the federal and provincial supports that are available to businesses now and in the future when the COVID-19 pandemic is contained.
You can access information at www.https://www.deltachamber.ca/ (and click on COVID resources on their home page.
During the town hall session, a question was posed as to when Delta thinks that restrictions will be lifted and businesses that are closed will be allowed to re-open.
“It’s really the call of the province and the federal government,” said Harvie. “We’re all hoping we can open as soon as possible, but I can’t see the province lifting up on the restrictions in the foreseeable future.”
Anderson emphasized the urgency amongst the business community, but said it has to be safe for all to do so.
“What we are expecting is that it will be a staged process, so some businesses will be given permission to come back first, probably ones that if you where you are in an office and social distancing can be implemented and then at that stage probably restaurants and others,” she said.
The importance of buying local and supporting the communities businesses was also talked about during the session.
Anderson said now more than ever it is so important to buy local.
“There are so many businesses that are open in a virtual way and they have made accommodations,” she said. “We have a list on our website of local businesses that would love to see you shop local. Our businesses are resilient. We have so many entrepreneurs who know how to pivot and they pivot so well. I’ve seen businesses who were just walk-in before and they are now all online and it only took them two to three weeks to get there. That is fast. That shows what the entrepreneurial spirit is all about. We know business will rebound. The key is they need support. We are there to make sure they have training programs, support programs and finances to be able to pivot quickly because we are living in a new world.”
Harvie added that another key is the federal and provincial governments to support those businesses that are fully shut-down and don’t have any ability to open.
“The businesses that have been locked down…they desperately need support, so I hope the provincial and federal governments are targeting those businesses so they can start up again,” he said. “I’ve talked with many operators and it is just heartbreaking to see.”
Watch a full recap of the town hall session on the Optimist Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/TheDeltaOptimist.
