While the government is offering Quebecers a moral contract for the holiday season, the Federation of Quebec Chambers of Commerce (FCCQ) wants to offer it a moral contract with restaurant owners. After consulting its network of chambers of commerce over the past few days, the FCCQ is now presenting possible solutions to the government, in order to help restaurateurs to be able to find their operations as quickly as possible.
Prime Minister François Legault has announced that restaurants, performance halls and training halls located in the red zone will remain closed until January 11. The government has also authorized family gatherings for a few days during the holiday season.
However, restaurants could have been safe places for family gatherings, given the many investments in health.
“This is a huge blow to many companies, not only on their finances, but also on their morale. We understand that the current figures of COVID-19 cases do not allow a full return to normalcy, but restaurant companies have invested significant sums in the development of their spaces according to the best sanitary standards. The gatherings in limited numbers in these establishments could have been done without compromising public health, ”declared Charles Milliard, President and CEO of the FCCQ.
A cry from the heart of the business community
"The business community, both in cities and in the regions, shouts from the heart at the fear that several businesses will disappear as a result of this new prolonged closure. Companies have followed all instructions since the very beginning of the pandemic. They closed for the first time, invested to adapt their business, closed temporarily and now, they are once again postponing their reopening. We cannot remain insensitive to the reality that these companies encounter. While remaining vigilant on public health practices, in our opinion, the government should prepare the ground for the reopening of restaurants, and send signals to this effect to restaurant entrepreneurs as well as to the population, "added Mr. Milliard.
Proposals to save the restaurant industry
The government has taken action to help restaurateurs, including regulatory relief measures to allow third-party alcohol deliveries, but it is clear that this will not be enough. We are therefore submitting to the government other avenues for reflection to help restaurateurs as well as requests from the business community:
During the holiday season, that is, from December 24 to 27, offer restaurant owners the opportunity to accommodate a limited number of people in their dining rooms.
When the case / death curve is on a downward slope, ensure that the announcement of the reopening of restaurant dining operations takes place as soon as possible, to allow a reasonable amount of time for restaurateurs to prepare.
When dining room operations reopen, restaurants could limit attendance to a limited number of their current capacity, which is financially attractive enough to resume operations and depending on their regional reality.
For the future, avoid returning to a complete closure of the dining rooms. Opening with a small number of customers, while applying measures to protect public health would be a better avenue given the consequences on jobs and the supply chain of restaurateurs.
Defer GST and QST rebates on sales made by restaurants, bars and other businesses affected by forced closures, until June 30, 2021.
More severely penalize restaurants and bar owners who do not apply public health rules.
Include a specific component in local purchasing campaigns to encourage restaurants, bars, gyms and other establishments closed in the red zone, and to restore customer confidence.
In addition to the people who survived COVID-19, use restaurant employees in the upcoming Quebec government awareness campaigns regarding compliance with public health standards, since they are suffering the impacts of this crisis and the message conveyed would be powerful.
Take into account regional particularities that create unfair situations (for example: restaurants in Gatineau are closed, but see their customers frequenting bars and restaurants in Ottawa. The situation is the same for the regions bordering the Laurentides