As we await further developments this afternoon from @PremierScottMoe and @SaskHealth, a few comments from "Main Street" and the interaction between provincial public health orders and various federal existing supports. /1

The reality many of us engaged in public-facing businesses is that traffic has slowed significantly. We are allowed to stay open (and I'm grateful for the operational flexibility) but our customers are being told to stay home. The result has been a slowdown in effect. /2

The principal economic supports that are relevant to these businesses are the CEWS (wage subsidy) and the CERS (rent subsidy). Both of these programs are tiered (in that support increases as comparative losses increase) and both are dependent on actual amounts being paid. /3

They are compensatory programs, not a windfall for small businesses. We have gratefully participated in the CEWS from the start and are slowly clawing our way out of eligibility due to our expansion - it has allowed us to keep a full contingent of staff employed throughout. /4

I'm a broken record but the operation of the CEWS is much less supportive than it was in the summer - with some irony - business was robust in summer (if not at 2019 levels), less so this winter. Essentially we have moved from 75% to about 25% in terms of wage subsidy. /5

I mentioned we are clawing our way out of qualification - we have the benefit of distribution of packaged products.
We are grateful people can order takeaway and delivery.

We also have a unique view with our taproom and see on premise getting much slower in recent days. /6

The practical effect is that many public-facing businesses won't have sufficient support from these programs, don't have experiences and products that are portable and will be faced with voluntarily closing due to lack of business or safety concerns. /7

Many restaurants and retail stores that I work with are operating safely (look at where restaurants rank comparatively in risk of transmission, for example). The exceptions are few and can be dealt with via enforcement. /8

As a business owner, I am primarily concerned with the safety of my staff and guests and are comfortable with our operations.

But - perhaps self-evident - you can't sell a meal (and thereby staff the means to get the meal to the table) if no one is coming in to buy it. /9

Every good story needs a twist - so here goes:

The Feds have another aspect of CERS - Lockdown Support. This is a 25% topup of CERS if operations are *significantly restricted by a qualifying public health order*

As I read it, you are not eligible if you voluntarily close. /10

Each business is in limbo right now - remember these are organizations that support local suppliers, provide for employees, their families & our tax roll.

They are being asked to close pre-emptively & risk ineligibility for supports or stay open & keep bleeding financially. /11

I'm not necessarily advocating for a shutdown of sectors - far from it. I appreciate operational flexibility and recognize that many operators are safety focused, responsible and at comparatively low risk of transmission.

Each operator has many mouths to feed. /12

But I do want us to be clear eyed and intellectually honest about what is happening on the ground level.

Decisions taken around public health orders (or indecision) are leaving immediate decisions up to individual business - there are obvious gaps in the current safety net. /13

Remember - all of the statistics that we are peppered with are historical data. They represent a past version of our public health situation.

Its the same with our economic situation - the crisis for business is upon us and I find patience is a hard commodity these days. /end