MPP Thompson hosts virtual roundtable on COVID-19

On Wednesday (May 20th), Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, Prabmeet Sarkaria and the Minister of Government and Consumer Services and local Huron-Bruce MPP, Lisa Thompson participated in a virtual roundtable to hear from the small business community in Brockton and surrounding area on how to respond to COVID-19 and help main street rebound. The ministers were joined by Chris Peabody, Mayor of Brockton and members of the local Business Improvement Association.

“It is critical that communities across Ontario have a chance to provide their insights and feedback to the provincial government as we continue our roadmap to recovery, this is why I am very pleased Minister Sarkaria was able to hear from our community,” said Thompson.

 “Small businesses, like these in Brockton, are vital to our communities and our local economy – whether that’s the flower shop in Walkerton; a diner in Elmwood; a variety store in Cargill; or a lumber yard in Chepstow,” said Minister Sarkaria. “Our small business owners know better than anyone what it takes to create jobs, jumpstart growth, and get our economy moving again – this is why it is vitally important to draw on their strengths, expertise and know-how.”

Wednesday’s virtual roundtable gave Brockton’s small business community the opportunity to participate in the government-wide effort to help businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic and local business owners shared specific challenges and potential solutions for the government to consider.

Both Minister Thompson and Minister Sarkaria are members of Ontario’s Jobs and Recovery Committee which is tasked with developing the staged action plan on how to move Ontario forward as it deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. Feedback from this and other provincial roundtables will help inform that committee and its necessary and critical work ahead.

QUICK FACTS

 Members of the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee include:

• Rod Phillips, Chair, Minister of Finance

• Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

• Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board

• Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation

• Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health

• Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

• Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Minister of Indigenous Affairs

• John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry

• Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure

• Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries

• Lisa Thompson, Minister of Government and Consumer Services

• Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development

• Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction

On March 25, 2020, the government launched Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID19. The first phase of the government’s response, it is a $17 billion package with funding targeted to help families and a variety of sectors across Ontario.