COCHRANE— Calling on Cochrane Council to explore opportunities to help local businesses weather the economic fallout of COVID-19, Councillor Patrick Wilson has asked for a potential waving or reduction on business licence fees.
Wilson proposed the reduction or waiving of business licence fees at the Feb. 8 Council meeting. He also asked Council to send a letter to the Alberta government imploring the province offer additional support for businesses while softening health measures.
“The following two items are products of a heavy conscience about making whatever small difference we can amongst the devastation currently being weathered by our local small business community, the very heartbeat of our local economy,” Wilson said. “The crisis that many small businesses find themselves in is not the creative destruction of the free market, it’s not the result of poor business practices, inferior operations or unwanted products or services that lead to failure in normal market conditions.”
The unprecedented times created by the COVID-19 pandemic are forcing businesses to close permanently, he said, and many business owners have lost their life savings through no fault of their own.
Wilson asked the Town to refund the cost of resident business licenses for 2020 for any business that can demonstrate significantly reduced income due to COVID-19 restrictions. He added, this should include any small business licence holders that had to close operations during 2020 or 2021 or those that can demonstrate a loss of gross revenues as a direct result of government public health restrictions.
“These are both admittedly small contributions in the grand scheme, but I would suggest that they are worthy considerations as we stand with Cochrane’s suffering small business community and just know that we’re doing whatever little we can with the small of amount of control we have,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s notice of motion regarding business licenses will appear for debate at the Feb. 22 Council meeting.
Council agreed to send a letter to the province regarding the negative impact of health measures on local businesses. It is currently being drafted and is expected to be sent by the end of the week of Feb. 15.
The letter will be sent to the Province of Alberta, Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro, Alberta Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver, Premier Jason Kenney's office and Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie.
Wilson asked the letter to include Feb. 8's relaxation of health restrictions for small businesses and implore the province to make haste with the additional reopenings.
“We believe that our local small businesses are at a critical point of survival,” Wilson said. “While we appreciate the difficult nature of health considerations are on-going, we are asking that economic balance is bravely considered.”
He noted now is not the time to throw caution to the wind, but it can serve as an opportunity to allow personal responsibility and allow more discretion to businesses to navigate the unique health and economic landscapes of municipalities.
Mayor Jeff Genung recommended administration draft a letter for Council to move forward on that supports the restrictions that have been removed and thanks the province, while encouraging the Alberta government to continue on a path that allows local businesses to flourish as they see fit.
“I like the approach,” Genung said. “As elected officials, the amount of mail that we get that is positive in nature is far outweighed by the negative, so I appreciate the approach of thanking the province for the moves that they’ve made.”
Genung called for a balanced approach to the letter acknowledging the research and data guiding health restrictions while emphasizing the need to take steps to support the economy of the province.
Coun. Susan Flowers said all of Council is devastated by the pandemic and its economic fallout for local businesses and would like to find a place to make a difference, but she questioned if this is the best area to push for change.
“The province is gathering the stats, they're doing the research, they're getting the science going behind it and making decisions, so I just have to trust that they're doing the right thing— With our best interests at heart,” Flowers said. She added she had concerns and doubts the letter would change the province's approach to public health measures.
Coun. Morgan Nagel supported the motions from Wilson and the important role the letter could play for the future of local businesses.
“We may just feel like we’re noise in the wind, but I really do think these letters can make a difference,” Nagel said.
He cited the recent opposition to coal mining proposals in Alberta that the province tried to move ahead with. It was an area several municipalities spoke out against and the pressure made a difference,
“Right now, the province is having a really hard time trying to gauge what the public really wants to do,” Nagel said
