'I'm more afraid of the government than Omicron:' Ottawa business owners react to new restrictions
As Ontario prepares to move back to a partial lockdown, businesses are dealing with a far too familiar feeling of frustration.
Barely one step into the new year, Ontario is taking at least two steps back.
"It feels like a really hard gut punch,” said Johnny Bonney, general manager of the King Eddy in the ByWard Market. “You just have all the air sucked out of the room. It's frustrating, it's embarrassing, it's maddening, it's sad...I'm at a loss of words that we're right back to where we started.”
Restaurants like the King Eddy are being forced to close their doors to indoor dining, pivoting back to takeout only.
"At this point, I'm more afraid of the government than Omicron," Bonney said.
"Omicron case counts are rising exponentially across the province, we face a tsunami of new cases in the days and weeks ahead," said Premier Doug Ford during a press conference Monday announcing the new measures.
The slew of new rules start Jan. 5 and will last 21 days, they include:
- Closing indoor dining, gyms, and theatres
- Slashing capacity to 50 per cent at retail stores, malls and personal care services
- Cutting social gatherings to five people indoor and 10 people outdoors
- And pausing non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures
"We anticipate a very quick, short and rapid approach to this epidemic and impact on the health care system. That is why these measures are timely, they're proportionate to the risk and they should diminish the burden on the healthcare system," said Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore.
For gyms and fitness facilities, the closures come at a time when business is usually expected to boom.
"When you shut us down for a fifth time, you don't give us any notion of financial support, at the worst time of the year, what do you expect us to do?" said Ashley Mathieu, owner of Anytime Fitness locations in Orleans and on Kent Street downtown.
Without financial support, business advocates say many won't survive.
"These businesses have nothing left,” said Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. “They're at the absolute end of their rope and baring massive financial support from the provincial government we can expect huge numbers of closures in the months ahead.”
The new measures come as a result of surging Omicron cases in the province, threatening pressure on the healthcare system.
And so just days into a new year, instead of a fresh start, many are plunged back into the despair of the past.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.