The Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association (SHHA) was extremely pleased with the Saskatchewan government鈥檚 announcement of temporary commercial eviction protection for small business tenants in the province.
Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Trade and Export Development, announced temporary commercial eviction protection for small business tenants during the COVID-19 emergency.聽
The temporary moratorium will apply to landlords who were eligible for the CECRA, (Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance), but decided not to apply for assistance.
鈥淲e encourage landlords and tenants to work together and we encourage eligible landlords to apply for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program, which will help support small businesses by reducing their rent during the COVID-19 pandemic,鈥� Jeremy Harrison said.聽鈥淔or those eligible landlords who choose not to apply, there will be a moratorium on evicting small business tenants who are not able to pay their rent.鈥�
鈥淧erhaps well-intentioned, the federal Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program was flawed,鈥� said Jim Bence, president and CEO of the SHHA. 鈥淎nd this moratorium fills a policy gap by adding a layer of desperately needed protection for the small business operators of our province.鈥�
鈥淏efore the Saskatchewan government action, there was very little incentive for landlords to engage with tenants on rent relief,鈥� Bence explained. 鈥淣ow I think there will be tremendous motivation for both parties to come to the table and negotiate.鈥�
The SHHA applauded the considerable efforts of Minister Harrison and the Business Response Team and were appreciative of the constant and consistent communications between the government and industry partners.
Ongoing discussions have resulted in swift, positive outcomes for many of the challenges facing operators in Saskatchewan during these extraordinary times.
