Regina, July 29, 2020 – One in seven small businesses are at risk of going under as a result of COVID-19 in addition to the ones that have already closed, warns the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) in a new report featured on its Small Business Recovery Dashboard, part of its #SmallBusinessEveryDay campaign. CFIB’s mid-range estimate for business closures due to COVID-19 is 158,000 (14 per cent of small businesses). Depending on how the recovery goes, losses could be as few as 55,000 (5 per cent) or as many as 218,000 (19 per cent).
“Small businesses are big players in our economy, so minimizing business losses is critical to recovery. Right now both government support and consumer behaviour are critical to transitioning back to conditions that allow businesses to survive and thrive,” said Laura Jones, Executive Vice-President at CFIB.
In Saskatchewan, CFIB’s mid-range estimate for business closures due to COVID-19 is 6,283 (16 per cent of small businesses). Depending on how the recovery goes, losses could be as few as 1,665 (4 per cent) or as many as 8,503 (21 per cent).
“Although most of the provincial economy has reopened, there are still many businesses struggling to survive. Seventy-five per cent of businesses are now fully open, but just one-in-three are seeing usual revenues for this time of year,” added Jonathan Alward, CFIB’s director, prairie region. “It is critical that the federal government continues to adjust important programs like the CEBA and CECRA to ensure the businesses in need of help the most get it before they are forced to close permanently.”
Businesses in the arts and recreation (gyms, venues, arcades) and hospitality (restaurants, hotels, caterers) sectors are most at risk—hospitality may see 27 per cent of businesses close and arts and recreation, 30 per cent. Businesses in Alberta face the highest risk of closing, with a mid-range estimate of 19 per cent going under as a result of COVID-19, followed by businesses in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Newfoundland facing the 2nd highest risk of closing, with a mid-range estimate of 16 per cent.
CFIB’s latest Small Business Recovery Dashboard results in Saskatchewan continue to show that (unchanged from last week):
75 per cent of small businesses are fully open
51 per cent are fully staffed
33 per cent are making normal sales
Last month, CFIB launched #SmallBusinessEveryDay to encourage local shopping through a series of doable challenges and promote other initiatives that support small business recovery. Consumers can find information about the many campaigns such as the new Canada United campaign, which will donate funds to hard-hit businesses when Canadians take simple actions like using the hashtag #CanadaUnited on Twitter.
“With many provinces heading into a long weekend, we hope people will visit smallbusinesseveryday.ca and accept a challenge as a fun way to spend time with friends and family while helping local businesses. It’s all about supporting our favourite businesses today so they will be here tomorrow. There are many great campaigns that help amplify that support. No one is too small to make a difference,” said Jones.
