The most recent announcement by the Legault government, namely to extend the measures in the red zone by another 28-day block, although predictable, greatly discourages restaurateurs and other businesses affected for several reasons: restaurants are not places of outbreaks, financial assistance is insufficient and money is slow in coming.
The message from the Association des restaurateurs du Québec remains the same: the dining rooms remain closed although the establishments are very secure. Restaurants are monitored and supervised and the government is still unable to prove that these are places of spread.
In addition, the financial assistance measures announced by the government at the beginning of October are considered insufficient by restaurateurs and unsuitable for the new extension announcement. Worse yet, although the government has to reimburse up to 80% or up to $ 15,000 of the fixed costs for the month of October, many restaurant owners have still not received a single penny of this assistance. Significant administrative delays in the management of this fund are criticized.
This most likely leads to that. While the Saguenay region has just turned red, beating unenviable records of positive tests in the region, restaurateurs have announced that they want to ignore the rules and open their dining rooms this weekend. They don't understand why they have to stick to take outs or deliveries when malls are open, just like department stores how Costco is.
Faced with this outcry, the government warned the Chicoutimi restaurateurs: the police can issue tickets if they ever decide to open, and may also give tickets to people who frequent these places despite the fact that it's forbidden.