It may be sooner rather than later where Milton restaurants can be able open up their patio’s and sidewalks for customers – not at full volume though.
Over the last several days, we have been working with our economic development department, planning as well as our local restaurant owners to work on a plan to get them ready to go when the call comes from the province.
I don’t even have to say how much our local businesses have been hurting since the COVID19 situation hit. The phrase “hanging on by a thread” doesn’t count anymore as many businesses would love to even have a thread to hang on to.
Obviously a lot has to do with the provincial government and allowing regions to move to Stage 2 of recovery. Last week they announced some regions who were allowed to move forward from Stage 1 … this didn’t include us in Halton Region.
The purpose of getting this approved at a special council meeting this week (Wednesday June 17) is to get our Milton residents to the starting line. For those familiar with drag racing, it’s lining up and being prepared for when the lights go from red to green.
We are hoping to hear something this week about Haltons ability to move to Stage 2. Last week Halton Chair Gary Carr, along with the 4 area Mayor’s, wrote a letter to Premier Ford requesting Halton Region be allowed to proceed to Stage 2 of the recovery process.
It’s not only our restaurants that are hurting. It’s the hundreds of small businesses in downtown and all over Milton that are hurting. Revenues down, doing the best they can to hang on and we need to fight for them as well.
Milton council will do whatever we can do to help get things moving … and that includes reports like this for our restaurants and help make sure the playing field is leveled.
Our administration needs to make sure that we “find our way to YES!” and get things like this done quickly and efficiently.
I know many around the Council table will support this and help getting the ball going in repairing this economy. It’s our job to ensure that happens. It’s our job to “get to yes” and get things done.
In the meantime… for the Troys Diners, for the Rad’s, for the Eddie’s, the Casa Americo’s and the dozens of other restaurants in Milton. Let’s help support them and all the local small businesses in town when we can.