Montréal, April 28, 2020 ‒ The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal welcomes the plan to restart the economy that was released today by Minister of Economy and Innovation Pierre Fitzgibbon, at a press conference held by Premier François Legault.
“Today’s plan plots out an orderly resumption of economic activity in Quebec and the metropolitan area,” said Michel Leblanc, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal. “It was essential that the government give businesses and workers enough notice to have time to prepare. The announcement to resume activity beginning May 11 in the metropolitan area gives businesses in targeted sectors time to review their practices to respect health requirements, ensure they have sufficient supply and plan their work schedules. This approach will reduce the risk of a false restart.”
“The decision to stagger the startup of retailers with direct street access by one week in the metropolitan area compared with the rest of Quebec increases the negative impact of the lockdown on the city’s economic base,” Mr. Leblanc said. “We recognize that this decision was made based on public health considerations. We are reassured to see that the gradual restart after May 11 will use a synchronized approach between the metropolitan area and the rest of the province if the current health conditions persist.”
“We understand the economy will restart gradually and that entire sectors will not be able to resume activities for a few weeks or a few months,” Michel Leblanc said. “We are asking the governments of Quebec and Canada to move quickly to announce aid measures for these sectors, particularly the hotel industry, restaurants, cultural venues and the entire events sector.”
“The restart of the economy will be successful only if everyone has a hand in it,” Mr. Leblanc said. “It will be up to employers to ensure health protocols are stringently applied and workers to follow protocols. In closing, I would like to pay tribute to the four economic ministers from Legault’s government, ministers Boulet, Dubé, Fitzgibbon and Girard, who were in close consultation with the business community over the past few weeks to develop a clear plan designed to respond to the challenges of restarting.”
About the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM)
With a network of over 8,000 members, the CCMM is active on two fronts: being the voice of the Montréal business community and delivering specialized services to businesses and their representatives. With its finger on the pulse of current events, it acts on issues that are decisive for the prosperity of the city’s businesses. With the support of the Acclr experts, the CCMM’s goal is to accelerate the creation and growth of businesses of all sizes, at home and around the world.
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Source:
Julie Serero
Advisor, Media Relations
Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4042
jserero@ccmm.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chambremontreal
Twitter: @chambremontreal
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