But CFIB president Dan Kelly says new policies limiting opening hours risk further crowding at essential retailers like Walmart stores or Amazon warehouses instead.

"We've got to find a better pathway. We do believe that there are safe ways to allow smaller firms to continue to serve customers without shutting them down 100 per cent."

The move to the orange-restrict tier came into place on Monday, exactly three weeks after London and Middlesex County was placed into the less restrictive yellow-protect tier.

With restrictions and lockdowns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses that rely on a little holiday magic are struggling if not shutting down entirely.

Under the current rules, grocery stores can allow 25 per cent of their capacity — or 250 people, whichever is lower — and Traeger said there are questions about how that will be regulated.

The Winnipeg business community says the province is only addressing part of the problem with its latest announcement limiting in-person shopping at essential stores.

The Liberal government has tabled legislation for its revamped rent subsidy program. Here's what to know.

A recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business shows 83 per cent of small businesses are open, but just 32 per cent are back to normal revenues.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says a survey of its 110,000 members shows only 26 per cent of small businesses are reporting normal sales volumes, leaving the remainder at risk of insolvency.

Health officials in Alberta have yet to declare a second wave of COVID-19, but that’s not stopping businesses from bracing for one.