Claims of economic damage from Freedom Convoy protests were so inflated cabinet couldn’t give away half the millions it budgeted to compensate businesses, records show. One compensation fund saw 82% of grant money go unclaimed..“Up to 1,900 businesses in Ottawa could potentially receive support,” said a cabinet briefing note Support For Businesses In Ottawa And Windsor Impacted By Demonstrations. A total $20 million was budgeted for claims in Ottawa..According to Blacklock's Reporter, of the 1,900 eligible businesses, “Ottawa received a total of 1,561 applications and as of June 8 had approved 1,127 applications amounting to approximately $8.6 million in federal support.” The payments represented 43% of the compensation fund..Inflated damage estimates were even higher in Windsor, Ont. and nearby Essex County, said the briefing note. Local authorities had claimed millions in losses after truckers opposed to vaccine mandates blocked traffic on the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit, the busiest land crossing in Canada..A total $2.5 million was budgeted for compensation in Windsor. “It was initially estimated up to 240 businesses” would qualify for relief, wrote staff. Only 77 applied. Of those 60 claims were approved worth a total $462,469 or 18% of the compensation fund..No explanation was given for the inflated estimates. Local authorities from Ottawa in March 14 testimony at the House of Commons finance committee claimed significant impacts of the three week truckers’ blockade outside Parliament. “I can tell you from my vantage point they were very significant,” testified Michael Tremblay, CEO of Invest Ottawa..Tremblay cited a March 11 story by CBC News that claimed the blockade “cost downtown Ottawa millions per day” based on estimates from retail analysts. “Total economic damage may range from about $44 million up to $200 million,” said the CBC..Compensation was paid through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Applicants were eligible for up to $10,000 in federal aid. Terms for compensation were broad enough to cover “utilities, insurance, bank charges, loss of inventory (e.g. spoiled food), wages, rent and other extraordinary costs related to the repair or protection of a business due to the demonstrations,” wrote staff..A Downtown Ottawa Business Relief Fund letter to shopkeepers on March 21 encouraged businesses “directly and negatively impacted by the demonstrations” to apply for a grant. Any business that “planned on operating during the demonstrations but was limited or unable to do so” could apply, said the letter.
