MELFORT — As the first phase of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan starts to take effect, Melfort businesses expressed their worries for the future and how that will impact their businesses.
During a meeting of the Melfort Trade Alliance on May 7, local business owners met online with Melfort MLA Todd Goudy and Prince Albert MP Randy Hoback to discuss what they are going through. Especially with many of the businesses being shut down or having to lay off staff because of the pandemic, local business owners are afraid of what the future will bring.
Tyler Fahlman, the alliance's president, said Melfort businesses are all dealing with their own challenges, from remaining open while dealing with COVID-19 based changes to a few others having had to shut their doors completely.
“It's very difficult for any business owner put into that situation where their entire revenue stream is 100 per cent cut off, or cut down to the point of being barely able to pay bills.”
Dale Wojceichowski, owner and operator of Dale’s Snacks Vending in Melfort, said that trying to work through COVID-19 has been a traumatic and stressful experience.
He said he works so hard at his business, something that can be stressful without the threat of a pandemic.
“Over the course of literally one weekend we had everything pulled out from underneath us,” he said.
Taking care of vending machines across the Melfort area, Wojceichowski said the phones started ringing as soon as the schools, the rink, and other vending machine locations started to close. Product that has been returned to his business has now been piled up with no chance of reselling or restocking it. Wojceichowski said he hasn’t been able to count up what he has lost so far since it is an emotionally trying task that he is not looking forward to.
Everyone’s situation as a business owner is different, he said, and while times are tough for his business, he knows that many businesses have it worse.
Being able to talk openly and honestly about what people are going through is good, Fahlman said, because it means people are seeking help for both their financial and mental health.
Having Goudy and Hoback on the line with the Alliance means that they are being made aware of these issues, Fahlman said.
“Todd Goudy and Randy Hoback have both reached out to businesses that feel like they are falling through the cracks and trying to find a way to help them to figure out what programs they are eligible for. They’ve been very big supporters in that way.”
For Todd Goudy, he wants to hear these challenges so governments can do something about them before it’s too late. We are pioneering through a time that none of us have faced, he said.
“Hearing those challenges, hearing those frustrations, hearing those concerns and questions helps us to do our job better when we meet with the ministry and set policy. This kind of conversation and open dialogue is very helpful for everyone involved.”
Any businesses in need are free to call the Melfort Trade Alliance for assistance or the offices of Goudy or Hoback to discuss issues regarding business challenges or the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan.
