Dear Premier Ford, Mayor Tory, and other Public Servants whom this may concern,

First off we'd like to thank all Public Servants and leaders in our community for their efforts in advocating for our Province and responding to such a complex and ever-changing pandemic. Since March of 2020, COVID-19 has imposed an obvious health risk to Canadians, and citizens have sought to do their part to support one another however possible.

As we move forward once again in a direction of health and prosperity, it's time we now do our part to support the backbone of our Country: Small Businesses.

Our Province's response in managing the number of cases has come at a price, threatening many of the approximately 415,000 small businesses in Ontario, including the lives of their owners and employees - Many of whom are currently struggling to pay their rent, put food on their tables, and take care of their kids and families. In fact the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) projected a loss of over 67,000 small businesses in Ontario due to Province's response to the pandemic. 

Among the businesses being hit the hardest are restaurants, bars, gyms, and other brick & mortar shops, in large part due to the government-imposed restrictions and shutdowns. 

As of November 12th, only 0.006% of Ontario residents have contracted COVID-19. Of that 0.006% we can proudly boast a 96.35% survival rate. Furthermore, in a recent report released by the Province of Ontario, we saw that even amongst the Ontario regions with the highest number of cases, 2-5% of outbreaks derived from gyms, and only 2-14% from restaurants and bars, while 20-39% derived from schools and daycares, and up to 33% from retirement homes. 

While restaurants, bars, and gyms have abided by all restrictions, shutdowns, and protocols imposed thus far by the government, and have had very little to no correlation to the increase in Ontario cases, they continue to be met with the harshest of restrictions of any sector, forcing many to lay off staff and/or close permanently. 

In a worthy effort to protect our vulnerable citizens from COVID-19, we are now experiencing small businesses close on a daily basis, a 240% increase in suicide rates compared to 2019 (As reported by the Canadian Mental Health Association), and a growing number of Canadians concerned about how they are going to pay next month's bills.

Simply put, business owners want to open, their employees want to work, their customers want to attend and purchase, and the data supports that it can all be done safely. While all residents in the Province and Country support protecting the health and safety of one another, particularly our vulnerable, it has become evident that that the financial and mental health of our fellow Canadians, specifically of our small business owners, their workers, and their healthy customers are being disproportionately and negatively impacted due to government-imposed restrictions and shutdowns. This has lead directly to serious and concerning rates of closures, bankruptcies, cases of domestic abuse and mental health issues, despite a lack of reasonable data to support that closing and limiting the operations of such businesses is lowering the number of COVID-19 cases or improving the overall health and safety of Ontario residents.

We ask that all businesses in Ontario, specifically restaurants, bars, and gyms be given the freedom to open, effective immediately, with reasonable restrictions and protocol which still allow them to operate profitably, employ their staff, and service their customers both indoors and outdoors. This should include allowing restaurants and bars to serve until at least 11:00PM, and all businesses to welcome at least 50 guests at a time, or 50% of their maximum capacity. If steps to support businesses are not taken, we'll continue to face an uncontrollable increase in mental health issues, suicides, cases of domestic abuse, bankruptcies, and a decrease in overall health and safety.

At what point do we draw the line and acknowledge that the current measures imposed by the Provincial government are not effectively managing the number of cases in Ontario, and are negatively impacting the overall health, safety, and security of its citizens? We believe that point in time has come now. We ask that Mayor Tory, Premier Ford, and all other Public Servants be held accountable to restore the freedoms of Ontario citizens to operate businesses responsibly, work to earn an honest living, exercise, and enjoy time with friends and family. 

Thank you for your time and leadership.

Respectfully and Patriotically Yours