Quebec will compensate restaurant owners for the loss of thousands of dollars in foodstuffs caused by the sudden closure of dining rooms.
Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon on Wednesday announced a payment of up to $ 10,000 per restaurant to cover the cost of perishable food that was wasted or had to be donated to charity.
To take advantage of this new aid, restaurateurs will have to prove the amounts of their losses. “Sanitary rules have hit hard in the restaurant industry,” Fitzgibbon acknowledged in a statement.
Remember that the government decreed on December 30 the closure of the dining rooms, in effect on December 31 at 5 p.m.
Many establishments then lost a large amount of food that was scheduled for New Year’s Eve and for the first weeks of January.
The Association Restauration Québec (ARQ) and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) are delighted with this announcement.
“We welcome the speed of execution of the government, which quickly put this in place,” commented Martin Vézina, vice-president of public affairs for the ARQ. That can help maintain liquidity, which will be one of our challenges for January and February. “
“The restaurant industry is one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 with debt accumulated to get through the pandemic exceeding $ 200,000. It was important for the government to respond, ”said François Vincent, vice-president for Quebec at the CFIB by email.
Only restaurants eligible for Aid for businesses in regions on maximum alert (AERAM) will be able to take advantage of this new aid.
AERAM allows businesses subject to a closure order to obtain funds to pay certain fixed costs such as rent and electricity. On the other hand, businesses that have been open for less than six months do not have access to it.