OTTAWA – NDP MPP Joel Harden held a press conference Friday in Ottawa to discuss the Save Main Street: A Plan for Jobs and Financial Security for Working People that was released by the NDP on Friday morning. 

It’s a plan to help people and small businesses weather the second wave of economic challenges, and ensure working people are positioned to drive Ontario’s economic recovery and bounce back healthier and more prosperous than ever. 

The NDP released a Save Main Street plan in April, and has now updated and expanded to fit changing conditions for small businesses and workers.

The NDP’s plan includes a ban on all commercial evictions, a 75 per cent commercial rent subsidy, sick days for all, a fund to help businesses with safe-reopening costs or remote-work set-up costs, more non-profit and public child care spaces for working parents, an end to insurance gouging and insurance denials, and more.

Background

Keeping workers on the payroll

• A ban on all evictions, lockouts or eviction threats by commercial landlords, in place until the pandemic ends
• A utility payment freeze for small and medium-sized businesses
• A stand-alone emergency 75 per cent commercial rent subsidy, up to $10,000 per month
• A fund for businesses that face historic barriers

Keeping workers safe

• A safe re-opening and remote-work set up fund for small and medium-sized businesses
• A Made In Ontario paid sick days plan for all

Building the she-covery

• Cap class sizes and school bus capacity to keep kids safe, and moms working
• Create more, safer non-profit and public child care spaces
• Create a dedicated re-training fund and Office to Advance Women Apprenticeship

Stopping insurance gouging

• Institute an auto-insurance grace period for taxis and car-sharing drivers
• Stop insurance gouging, stop insurance corporations from denying coverage based on COVID-19, stop insurance companies from denying business interruption claims
• Mandate commercial vehicle insurance rebates.

Keeping restaurant jobs afloat

• Limit food delivery fees

Joel Harden, NDP MPP for Ottawa Centre:

"Small businesses in Ottawa and across Ontario are struggling to stay afloat, but instead of taking urgent action to save jobs, this government is sitting on $6.7 billion for COVID-19 response measures. Our Save Main Street plan offers hope and real solutions for small business owners and workers who are looking for support during this difficult time."
 

Dennis Van Staalduinen, Ottawa resident and Executive Director of the Wellington West BIA:

“From the beginning of this pandemic, the survival of small businesses in Wellington West has depended on dollars and support. We knew the dollars were drying up, and our businesses took those hits willingly because it was worth it for public health. What we didn’t get was confidence from our different levels of government that direct support was going to be coming to those businesses.