October 12, 2021
Ms. Krista Ross
Chief Executive Officer
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce 364 York Street, Suite 200 Fredericton, NB E3B 3PJ
E-mail: Kristar@frederictonchambr.eca
Dear Ms. Ross:
Thank you for your September 27, 2021 letter in respect to support for businesses implementing proof of vaccination requirements. While the pandemic has been unpredictable, our commitment to the business community has not wavered.
As you are aware, the Province has recently put in place new measures to limit and control the spread of COVID-19 during the current fourth wave of this pandemic. These new measures ensure operators can remain open without mandatory closures, or capacity limits.
Citizens accessing certain events, services and businesses are required to show proof of vaccination. This is one way to ensure businesses can continue to safety operate. While there are no immediate plans to extend compensation for this verification requirement, Opportunities New Brunswick will continue to monitor business impacts.
The Province is also continuing to work with the federal government on potential technological solutions to enable citizens to use technology to show proof of vaccination. As future technology requirements become clear, ONB will assess any financial impacts on the business community and will respond accordingly.
The Government of New Brunswick has put in place programming and support for the non-essential
business this sector, including:
- Encouraging residents to travel and spend in New Brunswick through the Explore NB Travel Program
- Support for the return of meetings, conventions and sport tourism from the Department Tourism Heritage and Culture
- Re-assessing the valuation of properties identified in highly impacted sectors, resulting in total savings of approximately $2.4 million for restaurant-property account holders.
- Extending the Small Business Recovery Grant Program, which provided up to $5,000 for businesses ordered to close, or significantly reduce their operations.
Thank you for your participation as a member of the Operations and Business Continuity Escalation Working Group, which was established by ONB as a mechanism for major employers to escalate issues created by the ongoing pandemic and to discuss potential mitigation strategies with government.
You are also to be commended for your leadership in advancing a rapid-testing pilot program in the Fredericton region, which has now been expanded in all regions of the Province. This successful program has provided an added layer of protection to employees and small-business owners, supporting employee safety and business continuity.
Should evolving conditions warrant new steps which impact the business community, the Province will carefully consider the feedback and advice put forward by the Operations and Business Continuity Working Group, as well as your team at the Fredericton Chamber, as we have throughout this pandemic.
Thank you for your continued advocacy.
Sincerely,
| Hon. Arlene Dunn | |
c.c. Sadie Perron, Chief Executive Officer (interim), Opportunities New Brunswick
