City to consider motion paying out small businesses impacted by road construction

A pair of city councillors want the city to consider compensating small businesses which are impacted by construction work.

Two city councillors want the city to consider compensating local businesses impacted by road construction.

Councillors Sherri Rollins and Brian Mayes have put forward a motion which would direct the public service to study the feasibility of a financial assistance program for small businesses and determine how much it could cost.

The motion cites a City of Montreal program introduced in 2019 to help businesses affected by long-term construction projects.

Montreal businesses can be subsidized for up to $40,000 annually through the program for projects lasting at least six months, and a $5,000 lump-sum subsidy available at the start of qualifying projects.

The motion notes the program has paid out more than $26.2 million dollars since its inception and has “proven effective in mitigating the negative economic impacts of prolonged infrastructure works.”

The executive policy committee will consider the motion at its Dec. 9 meeting.