Half of Canadian small businesses now fully open but sales remain slow

Half of Canadian small businesses are now fully open again amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but business still remains slow.

According to a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), sales remain low amongst small businesses in Canada, with only 17% indicating they are making their usual sales for this time of year.

“New Brunswick is Canada’s most open province, with two-thirds of businesses there fully open, but only one in four reporting that they are making normal sales,” reads the report.

“As a result of a significant reopening of the small business community in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario is now Canada’s most closed economy, with 43% of small firms fully open.”

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According to the survey, businesses in Nova Scotia and Ontario are struggling the most with sales, with only 12% and 14% respectively reporting they are making their usual sales revenue for this time of year.

BC is 52% open, with only 21% of normal sales, while Alberta is 57% open, also with 21% of normal sales.

In comparison, Quebec is 61% open, and is making 22% of normal sales revenue.

“This week marks a major milestone in Canada’s economic recovery with half of small businesses now fully open,” said CFIB president Dan Kelly.

“However, the share of those making normal sales remains very low. Only 30% of firms that are fully open report normal sales levels. This tells us that we have a long, long way to go before small firms are out of the woods.”

According to the report, hospitality/restaurants, arts and the recreation sectors continue to have the lowest share of fully open businesses, and the lowest share making normal sales, along with social services and transportation.