Moved by: Councillor Alan Ho
Seconded by: Councillor Khalid Usman
Date: February 9, 2021
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Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant and ongoing public health challenges to Canada which has resulted in a prolonged economic slowdown and created substantial financial pressures to most industry sectors; and,
Whereas this unprecedented environment of economic uncertainty has directly and disproportionately impacted small independent businesses, particularly those businesses in the service industry including hospitality and tourism related businesses; and,
Whereas small businesses make up 98% of all employers in Markham and are a key driver of local economies and are foundational to thriving communities; and,
Whereas the ongoing uncertainty of recovery timing and the expectation that a full recovery may take several years, for small business to survive the pandemic, it is essential for businesses to have an online presence to sell their goods and services; and,
Whereas Markham is a municipal leader in Canada’s innovation corridor and was the first municipality to endorse the Digital Main Street ShopHERE program launched in May 2020 to assist small businesses with ecommerce and online sales; and,
Whereas the Digital Main Street Program has been a critical support to local businesses during COVID-19 and more than 440 Markham small businesses and artists have applied for support from ShopHERE since the program was launched; and,
Whereas existing Federal and Provincial funding support for ShopHERE is ending as of March 2021; and,
Now therefore be it resolved:
That City Council request the provincial and federal governments to:
- renew and expand funding to the Digital Main Street program as soon as possible to help Markham businesses remain resilient during the provincial lockdown measures implemented to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its variants and to survive through the anticipated slow economic recovery; and,
- renew the $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant and Digital Service Squad support; and,
- expand the Digital Main Street Transformation Grant to be available to main street businesses that are located outside of BIAs as the initial program restricted applicants to BIA member businesses only.
Be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to:
Rt Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada;
Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister;
Hon. Francois-Phillipe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry;
Hon. Mary Ng, MP, Markham-Thornhill, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade;
Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario;
Hon. Peter Bethenfalvy, Finance Minister and President of the Treasury Board;
Hon. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade;
Hon. Paul Calandra, MPP, Markham-Stouffville, Government House Leader;
Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction;
All Members of Federal Parliament in the Regional Municipality of York;
All Members of Provincial Parliament in the Regional Municipality of York;
All Members of Regional Council in the Regional Municipality of York.