Quebec's Christmas shutdown another blow for Gatineau businesses

Some business owners and advocates inwestern Quebec fearthe coming provincewide shutdown will deal another blow to local retailers thatwere already struggling to survive the pandemic.

On Tuesday, Quebec Premier Franois Legaultannounced a two-week closureofnon-essential businesses, from Christmas Dayto Jan. 11, to slow the spread of COVID-19. Grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, banks and pet stores will remain open, but big box stores like Walmart will be restricted to selling only essential goods such asgroceries and pharmacy products.

Between Dec. 17 and Jan. 11, the province's yellow zones will be upgraded to orange, and orange zones to red the highest alert levelwith indoor dining, gyms, museums and theatres shutting down as a result. Gatineauand other parts of the Outaouaisare already red zones, but the shutdownstarting Christmas Day will impose further restrictions on the region.

• Find out more about the Quebec restrictions here

Barbershops and hair salons are included in the two-week closure.Stphane Drouin, a hairstylist in Gatineau, said he'sconcerned about that.

"Once again, small businesses will [have to] cope with the money not flowing in," he said. "We were hoping for a better start in 2021."

Drouin said December is normally the busiest time of year for his salon.

"It's not only a money thing," he said. "It's taking care of our people.... It's a long-term relationship we have with them."

WATCH |Legault says Quebecers urgently need to reduce contacts:

Quebec's premier announces new restrictions to curb COVID-19 spread

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Franois Legault says Quebecers urgently need to reduce contacts as mounting cases place further strain on health-care resources.

'Turbulent' time for businesses

The shutdown will essentially cancelBoxing Day shopping, and Nicolas D'Aoust, vice-presidentof theGatineau Chamber of Commerce, saidthat could damagethe city's economy.

"This is a very turbulent period," said D'Aoust. "We expect in the coming months necessary closures, bankruptcies of differentbusinesses so that means ultimately that it's job losses in the region."

D'Aoust saidpeople should support local businesses by purchasing as much as possible from them before Christmas.

"These businesses rely on those sales in order to survive, and the co-operation from the population will definitely go a long way."

WATCH |Gatineau Chamber of Commerce vice-president saystwo-week shutdown will result in hardship for businesses:

Closing Gatineau businesses for two weeks a big blow to revenues, advocate says

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Nicholas DAoust, with the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce, says the period just after Christmas is still a lucrative time for local businesses and a two-week shutdown will inevitably result in hardship.

School break extended

Schools in the province won'treopen on Jan. 4as originally planned, but Legault said school boards across the provincewill supply students with homework and some level of remote learning. All students should be back in class Jan. 11.

Kim Boucher, a parent of elementary-age children in Gatineau, welcomes the news.

"I am relieved by it. I think it's the right thing to do [because] the numbers are going up," said Boucher. "I feel like the holiday is going to be the most dangerous time of the year."

But Bouchernotedher son has missed about five weeks of school this year due to health precautions, and thinks the 2021 school year will be similar.

"It feels a bit like a yo-yo," she said. "I feel like that's going to happen again."