Local small business owners community have continued to follow all guidelines even when at times it seemed too much to accept. We've gone above and beyond including taking on increased expenses to provide a safe environment for our people. We've been more than compliant for longer than most can bare while we continue to suffer devastating consequence; enough is enough. 

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, lead by Dr. Charles Gardner, announced on Friday, February 26, 2021 that we are going to lockdown starting Monday, March 1st, 2021. This is unacceptable. The publicly accessible numbers do not add up for this to be warranted. Sadly, it would appear that Dr. Gardner already has his mind made up two weeks ago regardless of the data that is to come.

Make no mistake, we do not want to see any further spread of COVID-19. This is not an "anti-masker" or a "COVID-19 doesn't exist" movement. Appropriate protections and protocols are currently in place to keep the vast majority of our community safe.

There has not been a single reported outbreak in any restaurant, gym, salon, day spa, recreational facility or other small businesses in our region as we have all complied with restrictions.  Yet, here we are AGAIN shouldering the weight of a decision not based on facts or meaningful science. 

Some important questions need to be asked of our local leaders. They must be held to account.

Simcoe Muskoka's small businesses are safe and our region does not belong in the Grey "Lockdown" Zone. Once again, the larger businesses will be allowed to remain open while smaller businesses with more controlled environments forced to shut down or face fines and other charges.

Please, join us in the fight for our small business community and all of our mental health by signing this petition requesting the immediate lifting of this unfair and nonsensical lockdown in Simcoe Muskoka. Allow small business to stay open, we are committed to keeping our community safe while our doors are open!

#ReverseTheLockdown