20 January 2022
Hon. Tammy Scott-Wallace
Marysville Place Floor: 4
P. O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Via email: Tammy.Scott-Wallace@gnb.ca
Dear Minister Scott-Wallace:
Re: COVID-19 Relief Support for Hotels
I am writing today to endorse and support the letter dated 16 January 2022 sent to you by Sara Holyoke, Co-Chair of the New Brunswick Hotel Association, which is requesting COVID-19-related financial relief in the form of discount and deferral of property taxes.
As you know and as Ms Holyoke’s letter highlights, hotels and the tourism industry more broadly have been more deeply affected than any other industry. That they are largely left out of current relief programs exacerbates their situation and as the COVID-19 drags on, more and more businesses in this sector will be unable to recover from the mounting losses. The current state of pandemic means that they cannot even begin planning the recovery process with so many unknowns remaining.
Particularly in light of the unexpected provincial government budget surpluses achieved during the pandemic, the request for property tax relief is reasonable, targeted and very much needed.
We appreciate your immediate attention to this matter with your cabinet colleagues.
Sincerely,
Krista Ross, CEO, Fredericton Chamber of Commerce
cc: Hon. Blaine Higgs, Premier, Province of New Brunswick
cc: Hon. Ernie Steeves, Minister of Finance, Province of New Brunswick
cc: Sara Holyoke, Co-Chair, New Brunswick Hotel Association
cc: Carol Alderdice, CEO, TIANB