'Trying to scrape by': Waterloo Region businesses devastated by Step 2 delay
The news that Waterloo Region will remain in Step 1 of the province's reopening plan dealt a devastating blow to some area businesses.
Personal care services and hair salons are among the places that will have to remain closed, while restaurants are still limited to four people per table on patios.
"It's brutal, it's another delay. And everyone had been anticipating moving to Stage 2 and being able to open up more," said Minto Schneider, chief executive of Explore Waterloo Region. "The good news is we aren't moving backwards into lockdown."
"We literally are breaking even right now. We need to be fully open or at least open doing everything that we can possibly do with masks on," said Carly Kuntz, owner of the Waters Spa in Waterloo. "We have been closed for 10 out of the past 16 months for esthetic services, so we are just trying to scrape by and trying to keep our business open."
Kuntz says she feels incredibly let down Waterloo Region won't move into Step 2 next week.
"It's very disheartening to call our guests month after month and postpone, postpone, postpone," she said.
In Waterloo Region, it is hoped businesses forced to keep waiting to reopen will get some help.
"We do have a meeting lined up with the Premier's office tomorrow, so we are looking to try to find out if there will be more support available," Schneider said.
Step 2 would have allowed outdoor social gatherings and public events of up to 25 people.
Also impacted are businesses that are currently open with capacity limits. In Step 2, outdoor dining can expand from four people per table to six.
Indoor dining will be allowed in Step 3.
"The longer it takes to get in and out of phase two, the longer it takes to get to phase three and that's really where we want to be," said Kirk Vines, Beertown Waterloo's operating partner.
Vines says many restaurants are still struggling despite patio dining being allowed.
"Most of them still don't have all of their staff back and most of them are on shoestring budgets, and most of them don't have any cash in the bank and I don't know how well that is understood," he said.
As Waterloo Region is held back from Step 2, neighbouring communities, including Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph and Huron-Perth, are moving ahead to the next phase of reopening.
"Certainly I don't think we should be complacent," said Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph. "Follow public health measures, listen to the rules, keep your distance, don't invite lots of people to your home, don't take your mask off when you are amongst strangers."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.