CITY COUNCILLOR JEFF BOWMAN MOVES MOTION TO PROMOTE SMALL, LOCAL BUSINESSES

BRAMPTON, ON – City Councillor Jeff Bowman (Wards 3 & 4) introduced a motion at today’s Committee of Council meeting, requesting the City create a program to highlight and support small businesses, and to promote them throughout the month of July, during the Province’s scheduled Stage Two reopening.
“Our local businesses have suffered tremendously during COVID,” said Councillor Bowman. “Now that the Province is approaching a tentative reopening of non-essential businesses, this is a great opportunity to support and promote them City-wide.
The motion requests staff to develop a program to focus on small businesses and encourage residents and consumers to consider buying locally.

Regional Councillor Martin Medeiros (Wards 3 & 4) seconded the motion.
“Our small businesses have struggled throughout the pandemic and need our support now more than ever,” said Councillor Medeiros. “As we enter Step One of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen, it’s important the City of Brampton provide assistance wherever possible to support our small businesses recover and attract customers”.
The full text of the motion is:
WHEREAS The City of Brampton’s local businesses have suffered tremendously due to the various COVID-19 restrictions and rules;
WHEREAS unlike restaurants and other businesses that were able to provide curbside pick-up services to continue generating income and revenue, many local businesses had to continue paying rent, phone/internet connections, modifications to reopen for a few weeks before being closed again, and pay for other many other expenses while not having any source of income;
WHEREAS local businesses pay a yearly business licence fee to the City of Brampton, despite having to remain closed during the stay-at-home orders and Provincial lockdowns;
WHEREAS Ontario’s “Roadmap to Reopen” for Stage Two is tentatively scheduled for July 2, 2021;