https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/barber-covid-19-new-brunswick-1.6318178
N.B. barbers' rep condemns members who broke new COVID rules
At least 6 barbershops defied Level 3 Winter Plan rules, says Blaine Harris
Blaine Harris, registrar for the New Brunswick Registered Barbers' Association, said he personally visited two barbershops in Saint John to force them to shut down.
His actions come after the province enacted its Level 3 COVID-19 Winter Plan, which mandated that barbershops, salons, gyms, spas and entertainment centres close for at least 16 days as of Saturday in response to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in hospitals.
In addition to the two in Saint John, Harris said he was aware of another four shops that were open and operating in Fredericton, and he would have visited them if Monday's snowstorm hadn't led to dangerous driving conditions.
"It's wrong," he said. "We may not agree with the rule, and I personally don't agree with having to shut down. However, the government of New Brunswick is the one mandating this, and if we don't follow the rules of law, then we have a lawless society.
"And any person right now that is opening up their establishments in violation of this would be subject to a $680 fine from the province of New Brunswick, and I think that that has to be done," he said, adding that he also has the power to revoke barbers' licences.
Danny Melanson, owner of Danny's Barber Shop on Fredericton's Main Street, opened his business to clients Monday, and said he'd already seen about 10 by about 11 a.m.
"I've had a lot of good support from everybody coming in, and I don't know how many hundreds of messages I got in support of opening," he said.
Asked about concerns for public health, Melanson said he's always operated safely and continues doing so.
"The world has to turn, and I have to pay my bills, and it's not that I'm trying to defy health or anything like that, but I'm being as safe as I can, and we always have been for the last two years.
"I think people are in no danger coming in to get their haircut."
Chad McGarity, owner of Warehouse Barber Shop on Regent Street, said his shop was open on Monday, but with 10-foot distancing between chairs.
He said he's already spent thousands of dollars improving safety at his shop and doesn't think it's fair that he be forced to close while large retailers are allowed to continue to operate.
McGarity said he planned to be open for bookings again on Tuesday, even if there could be consequences.
"We've sat down and spoke to the barbers that were going to be coming in, and we foresee that there might be [consequences]. But at the end of the day, its a livelihood," he said.
Shawn Berry, spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Public Safety, said in an email that peace officers checked 123 businesses over the weekend and found eight violations requiring proprietor education. No tickets were issued.
He said officers did not encounter any instances of a business remaining open despite being required to close.
"The decision on warnings vs proprietor education vs charges is made by peace officers on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specific facts."
Berry said a peace officer can issue a fine for a total of $580.50, and when an offence is brought to court, a judge may issue a fine up to an amount not exceeding $24,484.50.
Associations call for reversal from province
While Harris wants barbers to comply with the province's rules, he said he's working on getting the government to change its stance on barbershops.
"We're working with government right now to explain to them that our industry is not a vector [for COVID] and that we shouldn't be required to be closed," Harris said.
Harris said barbers are in a difficult position because they typically don't qualify for the latest one-time payment from the province of $10,000 for business owners who employ between two and 99 full-time equivalent staff.
"We don't have employees. Most of these shops that are in this province are either chair-rental shops or they're commission shops. They're not hourly wage employees getting weekly a paycheque of the same amount of money."
Gaye Cail, executive director of the Cosmetology Association of New Brunswick, has also called on the province to remove salons from the list of businesses that must close under Level 3.
Bruce Macfarlane, spokesperson for the Department of Health, said in an email that the move to Level 3 was made in order to mitigate the "extreme risk currently confronting the provincial health-care system."
Macfarlane did not say whether the province plans to change its stance on barbershops.
N.B. hairstylists call for reopening, say new grant doesn't help most in industry
Self-employed lockdown grant requires $30,000 annual income
Alexandre Silberman · CBC News · Posted: Jan 20, 2022 6:17 PM AT
Higgs’ Approval Rating Continues To Slide: Poll
Saint John, NB, Canada / The Wave
Robert Lothian
Jan 18, 2022 | 7:08 AM
"New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs continues to find himself in the doghouse, at least according to the results of a recent poll.
Findings from an Angus Reid Institute survey published Monday revealed the premier’s approval rating has reached an all-time low of 34 per cent.
This drop places Higgs in the same territory as Ontario Premier Doug Ford (30 per cent) and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney (26 per cent)."
"Harris said barbers are in a difficult position because they typically don't qualify for the latest one-time payment from the province of $10,000 for business owners who employ between two and 99 full-time equivalent staff. We don't have employees. Most of these shops that are in this province are either chair-rental shops or they're commission shops. They're not hourly wage employees getting weekly a paycheque of the same amount of money."
#haircutsaremurder
When doctors strike, fewer patients die
By Ryan Hoskins Globe Correspondent,February 9, 2016, 1:36 p.m.
"Yet a 2008 analysis led by Solveig Cunningham of Emory University attempted to bring together existing research on physician strikes to see whether patterns existed on patient impact. Five strikes — lasting from nine days to five weeks in places as varied as Los Angeles, Jerusalem (twice), Spain, and Croatia — yielded sufficient data to study. Researchers found that mortality in all cases either stayed the same or substantially declined when physicians walked out. In the case of the first Israeli strike of 1973, patient deaths dropped by 50 percent."
Also, those who don't have the thing haven't been allowed to go anywhere that all these outbreaks keep happening. So you can't blame them there either.
Also, as of yesterday, either 54 or 56 people who are currently in the hospital and positive for covid, caught it while IN THE HOSPITAL. The GNB is failing to report that too. They're trying to make the public believe that all these positive cases were caught out in the public when that is simply not the case. You can't blame those without the thing there either because all staff need to have the thing.
Doctor? Sure you are.
Time to change this archaic rule.
They can see no reasons
'Cause there are no reasons
What reasons do you need, oh oh oh oh?
I don't like Mondays
(Tell me why)
I don't like Mondays
(Tell me why)
I don't like Mondays"
------Sir Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof, KBE
They can see no reasons
'Cause there are no reasons
What reasons do you need, oh oh oh oh?
I don't like Mondays
(Tell me why)
I don't like Mondays
(Tell me why)
I don't like Mondays"
------Sir Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof, KBE
Obviously quite a few barbers agree
Retailers are open with 50% capacity levels, physical distancing of two meters and mandatory masks.
Salons, Spas & Gyms are Closed. The following Retailers are temporarily closed: Goodlife Fitness, Urban Salon & Spa, Kurves Brow Bar and T&P Elegant Nails Spa.
Food court is open for takeout and delivery only.
Food court seating is closed.
Shoppers are encouraged to use contactless curbside pickup and/or designate one person from the household to go shopping if feasible to reduce contacts.
Follow all directional signs / arrows and please keep to the right.
Sanitize and wash your hands often.
Protect yourself and others by self monitoring and staying home when you exhibit symptoms.
So you want a ZERO CASE policy like China?
Welding doors shut and forcing people into camps.
OK
Got it.
N.B. hairstylists call for reopening, say new grant doesn't help most in industry
Self-employed lockdown grant requires $30,000 annual income
Under Level 3 of New Brunswick's winter plan, barbershops, salons, gyms, spas and entertainment centres are mandated to close until at least Jan. 31.
About 40 salon owners protested, saying those measures have left them without a way to pay their bills, and ineligible for most government aid programs.
Shelley McAnespy, a salon owner in Riverview who rents chairs to hairdressers, organized the protest shortly after hearing her business would be forced to close again.
"Emotionally and mentally it's exhausting," she said. "I just want to work, I want to support myself."
'No help at all'
The provincial government currently offers two relief programs for small and medium-size businesses.
A one-time, non-repayable recovery grant of up to $10,000 is available to businesses employing between two and 99 staff.
On Wednesday, Opportunities New Brunswick announced a new, one-time payment of $2,000 to self-employed people who don't have any employees, although they must have a gross annual business income of at least $30,000 to qualify.
Isabelle Mazerolle, a hairstylist in Moncton, rents a chair and doesn't earn enough to qualify. The only support she is eligible for is the federal Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, which is $300 per week, or $270 after taxes, during the lockdown period.
"We're forced to close our doors with no help at all, or $270 worth of help," she said. "It's a slap in the face."
Isabelle
Mazerolle is a hairstylist in Moncton and rents her chair at a salon.
She said the latest closure has left her feeling 'defeated.' (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)
McAnespy said most stylists haven't been able to make enough income to qualify for the grant, as a result of forced closures and a big drop in business from customers staying home during the pandemic. She feels lucky that she will qualify for the new $2,000 grant for her business.
"We've been struggling. I've seen a decline just within my salon in the last six months, probably the worst I've seen in almost 30 years of doing hair," she said.
Arlene Dunn, the minister responsible for Opportunities New Brunswick, said she recognizes those concerns.
"As this thing rolls out, we're listening to people, we're listening to those criticisms, and we're trying to figure out ways to improve these programs," she told Shift NB.
'Our clients are our livelihood'
The province has not disclosed what virus transmission, if any, can be linked to personal services businesses.
Asked about concerns for public health, McAnespy said salon owners have operated safely throughout the pandemic and there's been no evidence of outbreaks. The limited number of customers in the space are closely monitored, she said, unlike large stores, which remain open to hundreds of people.
Hairstylists and salon owners protested the decision to
close their businesses and say they lack government aid. (Alexandre
Silberman/CBC)
"We are so cautious, because again, our clients are our livelihood," she said. "If we create a bad name for ourselves for not taking care of them, then what does that do to our business?"
Cindy Paris, a stylist who rents a chair at McAnespy's salon, said the closure is extremely frustrating.
"We are taking every precaution that we possibly can," she said. "We're trying as hard as we possibly can but we just want to be able to work."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
It makes no sense to exclude self employed and those just under 30 000. Covid has been so hard an folks and incomes are lower than ever really across the board. From falling sick and having to isolate, to material shortages, to not being able to do x in person, it's all a lot. They shouldn't exclude small businesses from the small business grant. It's absurd.
Higgs needs to reverse again on this and up the grant availability, lower the harsh and needless income/2 full time staff requirement. To say that x small business doesn't qualify for the small business grant but here's $270 a week is a giant, giant slap in the face. Higgs is so detached from reality and to exclude small businesses like he is, it's shameful (but honestly so Higgs, but that is why Higgs needs to do his one-two-step once again and fix this asap).
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-self-employed-grant-1.6320820
Provincial grant for self-employed people still leaves out some small businesses
Opportunities New Brunswick estimates 2,000 businesses will be eligible for the new grant program
Fredericton hair salon owner Lindsay Morrison says it's about time.
"I mean it's something, so that's good," said Morrison.
But there are still barriers for self-employed people, she said.
Arlene Dunn, the minister responsible for Opportunities New Brunswick, said the Self-Employed Lockdown Fund was sparked by an outcry from people with small businesses who weren't getting the support they needed.
"We've heard from a number of small businesses very concerned about the fact that the federal grant program's in place right now are not sufficient to support their loss of income."
One-person businesses only
The $2,000 grant is the first offered by the province that doesn't require businesses to have between two and 99 employees.
To qualify, a business cannot have any employees and needs to earn $30,000 in revenue per year.
Dunn said the revenue threshold was chosen because the federal government is already meeting the needs of businesses earning less than $30,000 through the Canada workers lockdown benefit.
- N.B. barbers' rep condemns members who broke new COVID rules
- N.B. small business recovery grant program extended, amount increased
That offering, meant for all workers across Canada whose employment is interrupted by COVID-19 restrictions, provides $300 per week, or about $270 after taxes.
The new grant still doesn't help businesses that have one employee or fewer than two full-time-equivalent employees.
"This is exclusively for the self-employed, so as long as they're self-employed and they meet the criteria of eligibility they can apply," Dunn said.
Dunn said she estimates about 2,000 businesses will qualify for the New Brunswick grant.
Eligible businesses can expect to receive the money up to 10 days after they apply.
A barrier since the start
Self-employed business owners had to rely on the CERB program early on in the pandemic and, until today, could only access the Canada Workers Lockdown Benefit.
Last week, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs announced the province would enter a two-week lockdown mandating hair salons, gyms and entertainment centres to close.
At the same time he announced the Small Business Recovery Grant program, which would provide grants up to $10,000 to small businesses employing between two and 99 full-time equivalent staff.
Louis-Philippe
Gauthier of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, says the
new provincial grant is a step in the right direction but thinks
businesses with one employee should also qualify. (Michel Corriveau/Radio-Canada)
The requirement left a big gap in support for businesses in need, said Louis-Philippe Gauthier, the senior director for legislative affairs for the Atlantic provinces with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
"Some (businesses) are structured from a self-employment perspective, employing employees on a contract basis," Gauthier said.
"Even if a business only has one employee, it's still a business and should qualify."
Gauthier said the new grant for self-employed businesses is a step in the right direction.
'It's not enough'
Morrison, who owns Mudita Hair Bar, said the grant for self-employed businesses still has some barriers.
"It's still making people ineligible because the $30,000 for a self-employed person is maybe not attainable for everyone," she said.
Morrison said the $2,000 grant will be enough to keep her bills paid, but her overhead costs are lower than most.
"It's not enough."
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