Province sets aside $22 million for businesses affected by new health orders

More business supports are rolling out in Manitoba in preparation for what financial challenges the current health orders could bring.

Manitoba's Finance Minister Scott Fielding and Economic Development and Jobs Minister Jon Reyes say a new Sector Support Program with $22 million in available funds is in direct response to the new public health orders ordering reduced capacity in various sectors, including restaurants.

"The new variant poses new threats to our business community and requires a comprehensive and urgent response accordingly. We are acting to provide financial supports to Manitoba businesses most impacted by public health orders," Fielding says in a Wednesday morning press conference.

The ministers both say the province is committed to helping businesses affected by the pandemic.

"We are pleased to announce a program of up to $22 million in direct financial relief to Manitoba businesses impacted by the latest public health orders put in place as you monitor the severity and impacts of the omicron variant," Reyes says.

The new supports will vary, depending on how many employees the business has.

Supports include:

• one to nine employees – $3,000
• 10 to 19 employees – $6,000
• 20 to 49 employees – $9,000
• more than 50 employees – $12,000

A website will be up next week so businesses can apply up until January 31. More details on the program will be released in the upcoming days.

It is expected that the supports will help roughly 1,800 businesses.

“The restaurant industry province-wide has faced significant challenges in the past 20 months during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ravi Ramberran, owner, St. James Burger and Chip Co. in Winnipeg says in a provincial statement. “I am thankful to the government for this program and I encourage Manitobans to support local restaurants and other businesses in Manitoba moving forward.”

Businesses affected by the new public health orders are eligible for this program, even if they have previously been given pandemic supports. Newer businesses will be accepted.

Fielding says they want to support businesses in their time of need, saying if orders change in the future, they will continue to work with the business community. He is expecting the next fiscal year to need more business supports, as well as supports in education and healthcare.

"I think what we are saying to the business community is we are there. We want to support the businesses that are doing everything they can to maintain their business while making sure that people are protected," Fielding says.

The finance minister says businesses can continue to use the Pandemic Sick Leave program to cover wages lost if staff are out for COVID-19 testing or illnesses.