The newly appointed president of the Lac La Biche and District Chamber of Commerce is hopeful — but pulling no punches when it comes to the reality of what the COVID-19 pandemic could mean for an already challenged local and regional business economy.
Just as provincial Health officials announced a mandatory 14-day self quarantine for Albertans returning from overseas trips, and days before provincial government officials announced the closure of all K-12 classes, post-secondary schooling and daycares, J. Paul McLeod was answering questions from the Lac La Biche POST about affects of continued changes to the local business landscape.
Can local businesses afford the sales interruption that a 14 day closure could bring, he was asked.
"Many will not be able to. I believe we will see layoffs to put workers on EI as small businesses can not afford to keep staff on board," he said, explaining that with classroom closures and school-age children needing home support, staffing in many local businesses could see the trickle effects, even if they aren't directly affected by the virus. " There are tough times ahead on more than one front, before the price of oil dropped 30 dollars a barrel and the virus hit our province, we were already in serious economic crisis. I seriously wish I had a magic answer but tough times are met by tough people determined to survive and push onward."
McLeod hopes the community can take the often-repeated mantra of provincial officials providing daily updates on the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and realize that everyone is in this situation together. He said the national response to the initial outbreak in China is a good example.
"At this point we can hope that the example of China where we are cautious that the spread of the virus is dropping is encouraging news, or hope. However we still have to go thru our outbreak and hope this is limited to the same time line," he told the POST.
The Chamber boss knows that if a community can rally around an issue, it's the Lac La Biche area. McLeod has first-hand experience of the security the community can provide. As an evacuee from the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, McLeod saw the community-minded sense of the residents.
"This community of Lac La Biche was very much at the centre of helping those people," said McLeod adding that was one of the deciding factors in choosing to purchase a home in the Lac La Biche area.
But the fire also showed McLeod, a business owner of a construction company, the direct effects on the Fort McMurray population of prolonged office closures.
"Most Fort McMurray businesses were closed due to that situation for more that 14 days in some cases five months or more. I have been reflecting on the fact that our government will have to respond to the realities of the social, and economic fallout of this Covid-19 pandemic," he said. "I do not believe it will be business as usual until the reality of this virus is known.
Business disruptions
Already, signs that the community may not be on-side with the need to act together are apparent. Grocery shortages of several common items are being reported across the country. In Lac La Biche, as with many other communities, for example, toilet paper has been bought up in such quantities that grocery store shelves have been left bare. The apparent panic shopping of that particular product has surprised many, since the Coronavirus flu is considered to be a respiratory illness, and not gastro-intestinal.
Local school division officials are expected to release more details on how the changes that parents and guardians can expect with the announcement on Sunday that all K-12 schools will be closing their classroom effective immediately. For some working Albertans who will be mandated into self-quarantine, the federal government has altered some of its Employment Insurance programs to offer quicker access to some EI sickness benefits, and better opportunities for supplemental income. Alberta's UCP government is also assisting workers who may be left without pay through a 14-day mandatory quarantine. Premier Jason Kenney announced last week that a change in labour laws will allow Albertans who have been employed to be paid for their absence. Although it sounded like new funding, Kenney has said the dollars would be compensated with the help of the federal EI program.
