COALITION OF NEW BRUNSWICK EMPLOYERS COALITION DES EMPLOYEURS DU NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK
June 3, 2020
Hon. Carl Urquhart
Minister of Public Safety
Marysville Place
P. O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB
E3B 5H1
carl.urquhart@gnb.ca
Dear Minister Urquhart:
Re: Reclassification System Under NB’s Phased Recovery Plan
We are writing today to request that the Government of New Brunswick develop a procedural mechanism that would allow businesses / industries / sectors to apply for reclassification within the New Brunswick Recovery Plan’s colour-coded phases.
As with many aspects of the COVID-19 responses, the phased recovery plan was undoubtedly conceived, developed, refined and implemented much more quickly than government (or any group) would produce under normal circumstances. We agree with this approach – speed and reacting to dynamic circumstances was paramount.
Now that the dust has begun to settle and it is clear that New Brunswick businesses will be operating under the recovery plan for quite some time, we think it is appropriate to refine the plan and phases further based on more information than government had time to consider originally. With input and data from businesses and individuals, the government will be able to more precisely define and categorize activities or sectors to best reflect “on-the-ground” realities. The activities and sectors described in the current plan are quite broad, which is leading to uneven results in the business community.
The government’s response to the events in Zone 5 this past week underscore the importance of getting this right. By way of example – a small Pilates studio that can comply with social distancing, hygiene, cleaning requirements is in the same category as gyms, large yoga studios, and other activities that will have to rely on PPE and physical barriers. A review mechanism may have allowed the Pilates studio to move into the Orange or Peach phase, whereas now they are delayed an additional week as part of Yellow Phase 2.
These are not minor distinctions for small businesses. The difference between opening a week earlier or later or getting closed down or not during a future outbreak greatly matters – especially after the past three months.
Recovery is going to be a long process – the more we can do on the front end to get things right, the smoother that process can be.
I can be contacted at any time to future discuss these extremely important measures.
Thank you.
Regards,
Ron Marcolin
Chair
Coalition of New Brunswick Employers
cc: Hon. Blaine Higgs, Premier, Province of New Brunswick
cc: Hon. Mary Wilson, Minister of Economic Development and Small Business
cc: Cheryl Hansen, Clerk, Executive Council
cc: Louis Leger, Chief of Staff, Office of the Premier of New Brunswick
cc: Mike Comeau, Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety
Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association
Atlantic Chamber of Commerce
Atlantic Convenience Store Association
Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association
Atlantica Centre For Energy
Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance
Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters – Chair
Chaleur Chamber of Commerce
Conseil economic du Nouveau-Brunswick
Construction Association of New Brunswick
Food & Beverage Atlantic
Forest NB
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce
Fredericton Northwest Construction Association
Joint Economic Development Initiative
Mechanical Contractors Association of New Brunswick
Moncton Northeast Construction Association
Miramichi Chamber of Commerce
New Brunswick Automobile Dealers Association
New Brunswick Business Council
New Brunswick Merit Contractors Association
New Brunswick Real Estate Association
New Brunswick Roofing Contractors Association
Retail Council of Canada
Road Builders Association of New Brunswick
SPARK – New Brunswick Metal Workers Association
The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton
The Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce
Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick
Media contact
Ron Marcolin (506) 651-2251 / ron.marcolin@cme-mec.ca
