HALIFAX — In less than 24 months, Hannah Kovacs temporarily closed her gym Move East three times.
She launched fitness classes online, organized outdoor workouts, developed ever-changing COVID-19 procedures and offered promotions to reward loyal members and attract new ones.
But now she’s had enough.
The 30-year-old owner of the Nova Scotia boutique fitness studio says unfair and contradictory provincial restrictions continue to hamstring her small, independent business — one that was only a few months old when the pandemic hit and thus excluded from most government support programs.
“There’s no way of sugar-coating it. On paper, we technically should not still be in business,” saidKovacs, a former competitive soccer player who got her fitness certification in Toronto and returned to her hometown of Halifax to launch the business.
“I’ve often felt like I’m screaming underwater and no one can hear me.”
Her experience underscores the enduring impact of government restrictions on small businesses across much of Canada.
Kovacs said she feels “cautiously optimistic” about Nova Scotia’s plans to lift all COVID-19 restrictions by March 21.
But she still worries the province could reinstate the same rules if infections rise or a new variant emerges.
“Can we take what we’ve learned from the past two years to make policies that aren’t devastating for small businesses,” she said. “We need to find a new way forward.”
Small business owners across Canada fear they could face renewed restrictions with each potential new wave of COVID-19.
Another round of lockdowns in year three of the pandemic could thwart last-ditch attempts by some entrepreneurs to stage a comeback after years of closures, debt and repeat layoffs.
“We can’t be asked to sacrifice and take on more debt again,” Kovacs said.
The Nova Scotia government has gradually lifted capacity rules on businesses in recent weeks. But ongoing physical distancing requirements have left some smaller businesses stuck at a lower limit for now.