FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 25, 2022 | NIAGARA FALLS, ON – In preparation for the upcoming 2022 Provincial Election, the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) has created the Main Street Means Business guide to inform about the key issues currently affecting Main Street Businesses across Ontario.

OBIAA believes Main Street Means Business will provide the information needed to navigate Parties’ Election Platforms in favour of enhancing and growing Ontario’s Main Street economy. Curated with input from voices of Ontario small business owners, Main Street Means Business encapsulates the issues currently affecting Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), otherwise known as mains street, and outlines recommended actions to the key issues identified.

“The work of BIAs has never been more critical than it is today during this unprecedented time in history, the COVID-19 pandemic” stated Ontario BIA Association Executive Director, Kay Matthews. “Now we must turn our sights to recovery starting with our BIA’s small businesses. The OBIAA welcomes the opportunity to be a key stakeholder concerning Ontario’s small businesses, the Main Street economy, current social issues that affect our Main Streets, and our shared goal of rebuilding Ontario’s economy.”

Main Street Means Business outlines the following key areas that OBIAA will be directing its focus to:

  1. Municipal Act Governance – The Municipal Act gives BIAs an incomplete definition that hampers BIAs images and creates confusion in the public eye. Ultimately the best way to resolve these issues would be to open up for review the sections pertaining to BIAs in the Municipal Act.
  2. The Economic Effect of Social Issues
    1. Housing – The lack of a balanced housing stock deteriorates the community ecosystem. The balance of Main Streets across Ontario has been shifting over the past decade, and the recent pandemic has brought these issues to a head.
  3. Social Issues – Main Streets have been combating the following social issues and challenges which are outside of a BIAs mandate: mental health challenges, opioid crisis, safety concerns and perceptions, and security and policing.
  4. Economic Recovery
    • Main Street Small Business: Main Streets have been dealing with several social issues outside of a BIAs mandate which present roadblocks to reset and recovery. These challenges include unequal access to grants for BIAs, loss of tourism, stunted innovation, lack of staffing, increases vacancies, property standards and loss of vitality.
    • Basic Income: Income disparity through COVID is being exasperated, thereby limiting people’s income and reducing the amounts they can reinvest in local economies.
    • Childcare: The current childcare system creates a financial hardship, preventing parents from entering the workforce, limiting economic growth for main streets. Affordable childcare, with enhanced expansion of services and safely regulated spaces leads to stronger employment options for main streets, enhancing workforce stability.

OBIAA believes turning our focus to these key issues in party’s election platforms will help enhance and grow Ontario’s Main Streets economy. BIAs have been a part of the Canadian landscape for the past 50 years and are responsible for providing their business areas with almost 100 per cent return on investment of local funds. Protecting Main Streets is key to Ontario’s long-term economic success – help us make Ontario a better place to do business.

The Main Street Means Business Guide is available here. Upon reviewing the issues, OBIAA welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss the issues affecting Main Street and how your party elections platform addresses these issues.

OBIAA Ontario Election -Main Street Means Business Cover Page

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ABOUT OBIAA

OBIAA is the network that represents unique and vibrant BIAs across Ontario. The Association supports and advocates on behalf of its members through the building and nurturing of strong relationships and partnerships. OBIAA is a leader in the development and sharing of information, tools, resources and best practices, and is the ONE voice on common issues.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kay Matthews | Executive Director, OBIAA
[email protected] | 647-521-5341

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