With Shutdown 3.0 and another Stay-at-Home order in full effect, local small businesses are shifting to curbside pick-up once again.
The public health and workplace safety measures for non-essential retail under the provincewide emergency brake include, but are not limited to:
- Limiting the majority of non-essential retailers to only operate for curbside pick-up and delivery between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., with delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., and other restrictions;
- Restricting access to shopping malls to limited specified purposes, including access for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, with one single designated location inside the shopping mall, and any number of designated locations outside the shopping mall, along with other restrictions;
- Restricting discount and big box stores in-person retail sales to groceries, household cleaning supplies, pharmacy items (pharmaceutical, health care and personal care items, and pet care supplies) only;
- Permitting the following stores to operate for in-person retail by appointment only and subject to a 25% capacity limit and restricting allowable hours of operation to 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.:
- Safety supply stores; o Businesses that primarily sell, rent or repair assistive devices, aids or supplies, mobility devices, aids or supplies or medical devices, aids or supplies;
- Rental and leasing services including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental;
- Optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public;
- Permitting outdoor garden centres and plant nurseries, and indoor greenhouses that engage in sales to the public, to operate with a 25% capacity limit and a restriction on hours of operation;
- Businesses that sell motor vehicles, boats and other watercraft;
- Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services; and
- Retail stores operated by a telecommunications provider or service, which may only permit members of the public to enter the premises to purchase a cellphone or for repairs or technical support.
Executive Director of the Downtown Milton Business Improvement Area Rachel Shuttleworth says local businesses are trying their best to make everything work.
Some business owners took to the street on Saturday to protest the latest shutdown.
https://twitter.com/StefFacchini/status/1378054418432618501
Shuttleworth did touch on the constant strife between small businesses and big box stores, saying that it has been a challenge and a point of contention for some retailers. She does appreciate that the provincial government is starting to acknowledge certain inconsistencies between the two kinds of stores, and hopes the playing field continues to be levelled out.
The recent rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine could be the big break that local businesses need. Premier Doug Ford has stressed that he hopes to have 40% of Ontarians vaccinated by the end of the four-week Stay-at-Home order. Shuttleworth says that with more people being vaccinated, we are getting closer to a state of normal – where businesses can open doors again.
You can continue to support local businesses who offer delivery and curbside pick-up. Shuttleworth says many of the businesses in downtown Milton are now online, and they could really use your help.
The Downtown Milton BIA just wrapped up its Easter Scavenger Hunt, with Shuttleworth calling it a big success. We’ll have more on that in the coming days.
