The economic doors in most other provinces are beginning to creak open but Newfoundland and Labrador—with one of the lowest infection rates in the land—remains steadfast that nothing changes until June 8 at the earliest.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says delaying reopening delays the rebuild.

This province hasn’t had a new case of COVID-19 in two weeks yet is right at the bottom as the least opened economy, according to the CFIB. Premier Dwight Ball says he would like to see things open up too, but we have an older population and have generally poorer health overall than most. Even though there has not been a new case in two weeks, the Premier says there are unconfirmed cases out there.

CFIB executive director Vaughn Hammond says it’s either they ease restrictions, or government provide more support.

Some business owners would be able to open tomorrow and meet public health standards, while others who have been told they have to shut down because they can’t meet the standards can clearly show they are able to.

Just under a third of businesses across the country are now fully open according to the CFIB, up from 21 per cent a month ago. Alberta, Manitoba, and New Brunswick have the greatest number fully open, according to the federation, while Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador are the least open economies. This province is the lowest in the land at 22 per cent.