The beginning of 2021 is still bleak for many business owners across Manitoba who are trying to make it work amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

That’s according to Jonathan Alward, a regional director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

 

He explains the CFIB surveyed businesses last week, with 45 per cent of small businesses consider themselves to be fully open, 38 per cent consider themselves to be fully staffed, and less than 30 per cent are earning normal revenues or better.

 

Alward goes on to say that the CFIB has been advocating for easing of certain restrictions, which the province says they are considering after polling Manitobans this past week.

 

However, due to the high COVID-19 case counts in northern Manitoba and First Nations, any proposed changes will most likely not apply to the region.

 

For the full update from Alward, tune in to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.