Loren Remillard: Latest News

vaccine mandates expiring Tuesday and mask mandates on March 15 in Manitoba, local businesses are deciding how they want to proceed in order to keep staff and customers safe.Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Loren Remillard said many of his members are taking a “wait and see” approach when it comes to maintaining — or completely removing — some restrictions.“We are definitely hearing from a lot of our members. We’re reaching out and talking to them and getting a sense of where they’re leaning,” Remillard told 680 CJOB.Businesses have not made a decision one way or the other, he said.“Businesses really are concerned about potential backlash primarily for their public-facing staff,” he said.“There’s significant concern that if they proceed with a vaccine mandate, that some of the issues we’ve seen throughout the pandemic will become even more heightened for their staff, so there is a lot of trepidation in the business community.”If there’s any consensus, he said it’s that many businesses will be moving away from requiring vaccinations, but strongly encouraging customers and staff to continue wearing masks.

While Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Loren Remillard was not surprised by any of the restrictions, but he said a financial plan to support needed to be presented and wasn’t.“We got the restrictions, but we got deafening silence on the financial aid,” Remillard said. “Some businesses have been closed since the fall and now we’re seeing additional businesses having to shutter their doors and without significant financial aid some of those doors just won’t open.”Winnipeg ICU doctor Anand Kumar says it was about time for stricter measures, but expects to see them around longer than what was announced Friday.“I think (three weeks) is unlikely.

restrictions imposed by the province amid rising COVID-19 cases in the area.However, another round of closures and limitations have some saying this could be the end of some businesses for good.“There are a number of companies that just will not make it two weeks,” said Loren Remillard, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.“We are already starting to hear some businesses that are sending out notes on social media that they are closing their doors permanently.”As of Oct. 19, beverage rooms, bars, entertainment facilities, casinos and bingo halls are forced to close their doors for two weeks.Gathering limits are reduced from 10 to five and restaurants must reduce group/tables sizes to match and keep to a 50 per cent capacity limit.

Small businesses are set to receive federal funding as their revenue dries up during the coronavirus pandemic, but according to some organizations that represent employers, it may be too little, too late.