If they understand the need to reduce contacts in view of the arrival of the Omicron variant, representatives of the business community are however concerned about the effects that the return of teleworking in large cities like Montreal will have, especially if it extends beyond the holiday season. In the public service, this return to teleworking will be made compulsory for everyone.
“We were taken by surprise. We are disappointed and worried about the impact that this will have on small businesses in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Gatineau, where we had started to regain life, ”says the vice-president for Quebec at the Canadian Federation of the independent company (FCEI), François Vincent.
However, he says he is “convinced” that it is still possible to protect and ensure the health of workers in an office, “in particular with a high percentage of vaccination and all the measures taken by companies, some of which go even further than what is required. is already prescribed ”. “Entrepreneurs are tired of the yo-yo”, also slips Mr. Vincent, who recalls that 64% of SMEs simply cannot set up teleworking, given their business model.
At the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM), President Michel Leblanc did not hide his disappointment at the return to teleworking either.
A lot of companies have made decisions about the return that started and in many cases it was as of January 10. We’ll have to see what that implies for the comeback plans.
Michel Leblanc, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, in the press, Tuesday
Mr. Leblanc asks that the assistance measures deployed by the federal government remain in place. He also asks Ottawa to imitate Quebec with a “downtown strategy”. He is especially worried about merchants and restaurateurs in the metropolis, since their income depends a lot on the presence of workers in the city center.
“These are the businesses that are at the end of their liquidity and in many cases, who have said that after the holiday season, things should be better. If we tell them that we are no longer certain, that will mean that many of these businesses in city centers risk throwing in the towel, ”he explains.
Facilitating factors
Glenn Castanheira, general manager of the Montreal Center-Ville Commercial Development Corporation (SDC), however, wants to see the “glass half full”. “It’s a shame, but we understand why the decision was made. And as we are one week away from Christmas, we were already expecting a drop in traffic. The good news for businesses is that it coincides with the holidays and that the stores remain open, ”he says.
If, however, teleworking continued after the holiday season, “it would quickly become worrying,” predicts Mr. Castanheira, who recalls that Montreal had managed to bring nearly 50% of workers back to the city center, despite the measures in place. “We were performing very well,” he emphasizes.
The president and head of the Quebec Employers Council, Karl Blackburn, calls on the authorities to make rapid tests available in companies “as soon as possible”. “The coming to the pharmacy was more than necessary, but now, if we are able to have them directly in the business world, it will be desirable. “
[L’arrivée des tests rapides] This is one of the keys to allow us to break the chain that forces us to bring back telecommuting whenever there is an increase in cases or a new variant.
Karl Blackburn, President and Chief of the Quebec Employers Council
“Until then, it is the consumer who decides where he will create jobs with his money. I really invite people to go downtown shopping this holiday season. This is support which, I know, will be greatly appreciated by traders, ”adds Mr. Blackburn, who also says“ understand the government’s decision ”.
Mandatory for the public service
In the public service, the return to telework will be downright “mandatory”, confirms the president of the Union of professionals and professionals of the government of Quebec (SPPGQ), Line Lamarre. Supporting the thing, his group says, however, that government authorities will have to learn from their mistakes when the holidays return.
“We’ve been telling the employer for a while that our return should be more calm, that we should wait a bit, that the pandemic is not over, but unfortunately the government has never really wanted to listen to us in this matter ”, supports Mme Lamarre.
She nevertheless affirms that “for the vast majority of employees”, the return of teleworking “is a good thing”. “And above all, for all of us, it’s a good idea to protect everyone’s health. The catch is, it means the pandemic is regaining control over our lives. And that is bad news, ”reasoned the trade unionist.
APPOINTMENT POSTPONED FOR THE STM
In the network of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), the return of teleworking means that the organization must postpone its “meeting with the workers for their eventual return to the city center”, admits the spokesperson, Philippe. Déry. However, he recalls “that the use of our network remains safe thanks to the measures in place”. “Whether for regular or occasional trips, the bus and the metro are efficient and sensible modes of transport. The holiday season is a good time to travel anywhere in the city and customers can opt for the STM with complete peace of mind, ”he says.
SUMMARY OF TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Teleworking back now
- Rapid screening tests for the entire population available in pharmacies from Monday
- Maintains gatherings of up to 20 people vaccinated at Christmas for now
- Intensive recruitment of vaccinators via the I contribute platform
- Possibility of advancing the administration of the 3rd dose to people 60 years of age and over before January.
- Imposition of wearing the procedural mask in common places in private seniors’ residences
Ariane Lacoursière, Press