<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 operating at reduced levels due to health orders, 35% have laid off employees, and just 8% reported an increase in online sales. “Business performance is not what it was in 2019, we know that liquidity is a big issue, and COVID-19 emergency relief funds just don’t make up for what has been lost,” says Davidson. “However, on a positive note, there is a fairly high level of awareness of government relief programs — more so federal than provincial. In fact, more than one-third of business leaders (39%) say what they need most right now is information about evolving provincial programs.” The MCC is pleased that 40% of respondents had applied for and were receiving the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), designed to enable employers to keep staff on payroll by defraying a portion of wages (approved for extension until June 2021). Also, 37% had applied for and received the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), a loan designed to fund operations amid decreasing revenues, with a portion to be forgiven if the balance is paid off by a specified date. When we examine the provincial relief program statistics, just 6% of respondents say they’ve applied for and received the Manitoba Back to Work Wage Subsidy, which defrays 50% of wages (up to $7/hr) for up to 20 employees until Dec. 31, 2020. Only 8% say they had applied for and received funds through the Manitoba Gap Protection Program, intended for businesses falling through the cracks of federal programs. Both federal and provincial governments have taken steps to address business liquidity, but more needs to be done to help businesses and workers through this crisis. Even still, the majority of respondents (69%) remain optimistic about their business, with more than 60% predicting their staff complement to be about the same at this time next year, and 14% saying it may be even larger. “Given the conditions we’re operating in, that level of positivity is not too bad at all,” says Davidson. ■ “COVID-19 has created for all of us moments of frustration, whether related to operating restrictions, complying with health orders, incurring additional costs to protect workers and customers, decreased revenues, you name it...It has been a slog, and there is no magic bullet, so we have to keep pushing to mitigate the health impacts, adjust our business models, and advocate for enhancements to COVID-19 financial relief.” - Chuck Davidson Methodology The 2020 Manitoba Business Outlook Survey was conducted between Oct. 30 and Nov. 16, 2020. In total, 397 Manitoba business decision-makers completed the survey. Since much of the research was conducted from a list database, the sample is considered to be non-probability and therefore, margins of error are not applicable. For contextual purposes, a probability sample of a survey size of 397 cases with this sample frame theoretically carries a confidence interval of approximately +/- 4.7 percent, 19 times out of 20.
DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP IN MANITOBA SINCE 1995 Join thousands of forward thinking leaders who have completed QNET workshops and certificates in Leadership, Management, Change, Facilitation & Design. Explore critical leadership practices, culture, communication, performance, productivity, accountability, emotional intelligence, teambuilding and more. Sessions are now available virtually, so you can attend from anywhere. Join thousands of forward thinking leaders who have completed QNET workshops and certificates in Leadership, Management, Change, Facilitation & Design. Explore critical leadership practices, culture, communication, performance, productivity, accountability, emotional intelligence, teambuilding and more. Sessions are now available virtually, so you can attend from anywhere. Register for any workshop or certificate by January 15 and mention this ad to get a $25 McNally Robinson gift card – supporting a local business and your learning goals for 2021. Register for any workshop or certificate by January 15 and mention this ad to get a $25 McNally Robinson gift card – supporting a local business and your learning goals for 2021. DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP IN MANITOBA SINCE 1995
QNET.CA QNET.CA
RURAL MANITOBA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION
WINTER 2020
9
Powered by FlippingBook