Hi All,
This is a follow-up to my earlier update. In his briefing this afternoon Premier Ford discussed the following:
- Ontario has 427 new cases today. This is an increase and the goal is to have a consistent reduction of cases for a 2 week period. We haven't been able to achieve that yet. Again, for all businesses able to reopen you must have safety protocols in place. Of the total number of covid cases in the Province of Ontario (new and existing) 63% are in Toronto.
- Premier Ford actually provided an update on the CECRA program - apparently it won't be available until sometime next week. He then went on to urge landlords to use this program to help their commercial tenants. When questioned by a reporter he said - and this is a direct quote: "landlords don't force my hand". The Premier believes that 50% from the gov't and 25% from your tenants is better than 0 rent.
So a couple of things from the Premier's briefing today:
- Julie and Zachary: launching the CECRA next week is just days before June 1 rent is due. How are landlords suppose to access this program and complete whatever the application process is in time to help with June rent?
- Peter: The NDP really needs to point out to the Premier that not all landlords are big companies which is something that the Premier has referred to both today and last Friday. Many of our landlords in our Broadview Danforth BIA are small business owners themselves - their small business is their property and the rent that they receive from their commercial tenants. This would be the same across the province and country. For these landlords to participate in the CECRA as it is currently set-up means that they too will have to juggle their finances - as with their tenants, 25% isn't as easy to pay as the Premier seems to be indicating.
Thanks,
Susan