Doug Ford likes to preach the good gospel about supporting small business. To his credit, he’s very convincing behind the podium. His big Boston Terrier eyes plead empathy, his oversized brow furrows with worry, and he weaves “folks” in and out of sentences as his “heart goes out” to whoever he’s accused of failing now.
This weekend, it all came crashing down. The illusion that Ford’s government resisted additional COVID-19 restrictions to save small businesses seems suspect, at best, in light of the fact his new policies throw them under the (over-crowded) bus. While small, independent shops must shutter their doors for the foreseeable future, big-box stores can continue to usher in customers with open arms and cash registers.
Never mind that these mega retailers welcome far more warm, potential super-spreader bodies through their doors each hour than most indie shops do in a day.
Costco and Walmart can still sell non-essentials alongside groceries, and department stores can continue to sell vitally important items like hosiery. This despite the fact big-box profits have soared throughout 2020 as small retailers flounder. Walmart alone reports a 5.6% increase in revenue from last year with free cash flow of $15.4 billion, up 9.4% from last year.
The sheer absurdity of it all is perhaps best expressed by Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) on BNN Bloomberg.
Among Ontarians, there seems to be collective shock re: the hypocrisy of Ford’s words and actions. This is where the narrator chimes in: “The truth is, Ford never cared about small businesses at all.”
Even prior to the pandemic, Ford was busy defunding the few supports they had. Just last year, he slashed spending on small business grant programs. He cut all provincial funding for Tourism Toronto and Ottawa Tourism, two organizations meant to support and promote the unique services and experiences within provincial borders. Who provides these? Not Walmart. It’s small businesses who benefit most from tourism. He made significant cuts to tech startup funds for innovation. He introduced massive cuts to the Ontario Music Fund, Ontario Arts Council, and other organizations responsible for supporting the creative industry.
Even the seemingly “non-business” decisions he makes negatively impact small business. Ford’s government cancelled rent control in new buildings, meaning potential entrepreneurs continued to spend ever-higher percentages of their income on housing instead of investing it in their businesses. Consumers paying sky-high rents also have less discretionary income to spend in the community. Simply put: Ford prioritized predatory rent practices over collective economic growth and opportunity.
He also cut free tuition for low-income students, meaning they’re likely to graduate (that is, if they graduate) with more debt that lasts longer. This again means less likelihood of starting and growing successful businesses, and less spending in the community.
But Ford really likes big businesses. Long before he allowed them to stay open while locking down small stores, he made it easier for them to ignore the environment in favour of profits, take advantage of their workers, and pay fewer taxes.
The signs have been there all along, but it took a pandemic to show just how much Ontario has abandoned small business owners… and how much further it’s willing to let them fall as long as the big players remain happy.
In today’s press conference, Ford mentioned he spoke to the CEO of Walmart Canada about Manitoba’s decision to disallow in-store sales of non-essential items. “After speaking to the CEO of Walmart Canada, it's creating massive problems,” he said. He cited a customer accidentally trying to purchase a pair of jeans with their eggs and holding up the cashier’s line. It sounds like exactly the sort of thing a company with billions of cash on hand has the resources to figure out. As he says to small business owners, “get creative.”
That Ford would rather Walmart continue to hoard cash than give small businesses a fighting chance during the crucial holiday season is telling. He’s finally been forced to reveal his cards, and it turns out they’re all promotional ones imprinted with unsightly big business logos. We should’ve called his bluff sooner, but better late than never.