While half of Canadian small businesses are now reopened, only 15% say that their sales have returned to normal levels.
As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, nearly half (44%) of Canada’s small businesses are now fully open, up from 38% two weeks ago, according to a new survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). However, only 15% of small organizations are reporting that their sales are back to pre-pandemic levels.
The survey shows strong provincial differences, with New Brunswick (59%) and Alberta (54%) seeing the largest share of open businesses, while Newfoundland and Labrador (24%) lags the rest of the country when it comes to reopening.
As provinces reopen, the recovery is proving to be uneven throughout different economic sectors. While nearly half (44%) of retailers and personal service companies have opened their doors, businesses in the hospitality and arts and recreation sectors are seeing a slower recovery. Only 13% of restaurants and 21% of arts and recreation have opened fully, while personal services like hairdressers and nail salons remain closed in most provinces.
The survey results are based on 3,883 online responses from CFIB members taken on June 5.
