BY MICHAEL THOMAS
On Thursday, April 30th, The Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce held an emergency Press Conference. The purpose of this conference was to demand targeted COVID-19 relief for black-owned businesses in this country.
While the Black Chamber of Commerce praised the federal government efforts for putting in place a $306M COVID-19 package for Indigenous businesses, they are seeking to shine a bright light on the similar plight of black business owners who face systemic barriers to: funds, historic and ongoing discrimination, and socioeconomic marginalization.
With many black-owned businesses failing to qualify for CERB funding, and black Canadians who are already disproportionately affected by the Coronavirus falling through the cracks, this organization believes that now more than ever, is the time for the federal government to act fast to prevent this looming crisis.
Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had a chance to speak with Mr. Michael Forrest, Founder and Chairman of Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce both at the press conference and in a one and one interview about the situation black businesses are facing, and what he believes can and should be done to alleviate the pressing need facing these business owners.
According to the federal government, the starting point for business funding Forrest said, is a payroll of $20,000, therefore, if you have a small business whose payroll is less than that in one year, “Then how do we find support for those companies. If you have a barbershop where you do not have a salary, how then do we help those smaller companies get what they are looking for?”
Forrest had some advice for small businesses that do not qualify at the moment for this funding, “The immediate thing I would say, is to get with your accountant to make sure that your finances are in order. Then we would share with you what the federal government is looking at sharing. Some businesses may qualify, but just don’t know that they do. We are looking to share that information with you as well.”
“Businesses,” he said, “like restaurants and hair salons, have landlords that are not giving these businesses a break on paying their leases with respect to landlords, they have a business to run as well. The money that we are seeking will be to help those entrepreneurs looking at maybe running different streams of business as well. I expect to see 20% of service sector businesses not recovering at all from this.”
At the press conference, Forrest was asked what the Chamber is doing for black-owned restaurants and bakeries in light of the present situation to which he answered, “Yes we’ve set up a go fund me page on our website to help those businesses that are going through these challenging times right now.”
“Right now,” he said, “the intention is to create the food that we can actually donate to the frontline medical workers. It’s one way the Chamber wants to give back and keep black businesses relevant at this point.”
When asked what he see’s in the future for black business Forrest said, “I think the future is very bright, because if you go back to pre-COVID-19 there is a movement in this country that I’ve been seeing in various organizations pushing development.”
BBI down in Nova Scotia, BBPA here in Toronto, and western groups that are pushing on economic development, so the black community is more aligned and organized today than ever before. We recognize that we have to move as a wave, so COVID will pass, and we will be more connected as a community.
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