Businesses struggling through pandemic now facing more challenges

As small businesses across Canada are struggling to survive due to the pandemic, in Montreal, road construction seems to be the reason shoppers aren’t flocking to the downtown core. Melina Giubilaro reports.

By Melina Giubilaro and CityNews Staff

MONTREAL (CityNews) – Small businesses across Canada have been struggling for months due to the pandemic.

Now Montreal businesses are facing another barrier to stay afloat, construction.

Even on a holiday long weekend, shoppers say it’s a total nightmare.

“It’s definitely difficult because when we’re trying to drive somewhere to get to that place. It’s gonna be hard cause there’s so much construction and roads are closed and it’s difficult for people to get to where they need to be.”

“This should not be happening on the long weekend. The construction is stopping drivers from coming into the city is a complete deterrent.”

“We need to make sure that we bring people back to the city center it is safe and public transport is safe,” said Montreal’s Mayor Valerie Plante.

Earlier in the week Plante invited all workers to come back to the downtown core.

A statement made not long after saying Montreal along with other major Canadian cities have suffered significant economic impacts due to COVID-19, and downtown has been hard hit with the loss of tourists, international students and office workers.

However on Sunday, shoppers we’re left struggling to cross the street or walking through a maze on one of city’s busiest shopping streets—Sainte-Catherine.

“We drove in from Ottawa yesterday (Saturday) to do some shopping and just walking down in this area was difficult we had to put our masks back on because the tar smell was difficult and it discouraged us from shopping.”

“We used to love spend the entire day downtown but now this is no fun anymore. And just to get downtown is hectic. And with COVID on top of that when it comes to public transit people are weary about transport so now to drive in and trying to come downtown it makes it even harder.”

“It’s like New York city, we’re taking cabs everywhere. I spend $120 on top of my gas and registration payments on top of my insurance just to come to shop to spend more money to go back home exhausted.”

Although the project is set to end its first phase in 2021 — mainly to replace 100-year-old sewage pipes and water mains with new ones – the retail council of Canada says more needs to be done to help small businesses from shutting their doors.

“We want a long-term resolution for restaurants and retailers in the downtown core. And right now what we’re seeing is Montreal was built on 4-5 festivals and tourists. When those guys are done. We’re seeing the results. You can’t survive,” explained Marc Fortin, president of Retail Council of Canada.

Although many small businesses are looking for compensation during this difficult time, one Montreal shopper can’t imagine the city without it’s orange cones.

“Construction comes with being in Montreal. There’s construction everywhere the sounds the people. It’s always been like that.”

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