May 6th, 2021

85% of businesses in University-Rosedale still waiting for Ford's small biz grant

TORONTO — MPP Jessica Bell's survey of businesses in her riding of University-Rosedale found 85 per cent of eligible business owners that applied to the government's small business grant program have yet to receive funding.

Bell reached out to 14,000 residents and all Business Improvement Associations in her riding to survey their experiences with the Ontario Small Business Grant Program (OSBSG), after hearing from numerous businesses desperate for information on the status of their application.

In a letter Bell wrote to Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, the MPP listed roughly 100 businesses in her riding that have asked the ministry to contact them regarding the status of their application, but have not heard back.

"Small businesses have been struggling to pay the bills and keep the lights on throughout this pandemic. That so many business owners remain in the dark about the status of their small business grant when we're deep into the third wave of the pandemic is distressing," said Bell. "Small businesses desperately need financial support from the Ford government now."

The first small business grants were announced by the Ford government in January.