Item: Lost Income Programs
Moved by: Councillor M. Fleury
Seconded by: T. Kavanagh
Date: February 23, 2022
WHEREAS the City of Ottawa declared a State of Emergency on February 6th
2022 in response to the illegal occupation of Ottawa’s downtown; and
WHEREAS this occupation took over Ottawa’s downtown core for more than 22
days; and
WHEREAS during these 22 days of this illegal occupation businesses, such as
those in the Rideau Centre, were forced to close their doors for an unprecedented
period of time; and
WHEREAS this closure impacted not only businesses but the employees who
count on shift work for wages to live; and
WHEREAS the Federal Government announced funding for businesses who were
affected by the illegal occupation; and
WHEREAS the eligibility and criteria has not yet been defined by the Federal
Government for businesses who apply for funding through this new grant
program coordinated by Invest Ottawa; and
WHEREAS the pandemic already created an unpredictable work environment for
employees who depend on shiftwork as a source of income; and
WHEREAS the occupation created a new uncalled-for level of stress on these
employees who were not paid during the 22 days the occupation besieged our
City;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor, with the support of City Council,
make a formal request the Provincial Government match the Federal Ottawa
Business relief program funding to cover fixed costs and sales shortfalls for occupation period of the Jan. 28 to Feb. 22, 2022.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor write to the provincial and federal government on behalf of City Council, to expand the lost income programs (EI, CERB, others) urgently to reflect the lost wages by employees during the occupation period of Jan 28th to Feb 22, 2022