Premier Caroline Cochrane plans to respond "shortly" to the NWT Chamber of Commerce's request that the GNWT pause evictions for businesses who can't pay their rent.
"She emailed us last night confirming receipt of both letters and that she would respond shortly," said the Chamber's executive director Renee Comeau, on Friday afternoon.
The Chamber wrote a letter to Cochrane on Thursday expressing frustration over the premier's lack of response to the Chamber's letter sent out on May 1.
“We are extremely disappointed that to date we have not even had an acknowledgment of receipt of this letter from your office,” read the letter, co-signed by Chamber president Jenni Bruce and Comeau.
RELATED REPORTING: NWT Chamber of Commerce blasts premier for ‘unacceptable’ non-response on commercial rent evictions
The federal government announced the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) on April 29 to provide relief for commercial property owners and tenants having to pay rent. The program seeks to reduce commercial rent by 75 per cent for businesses that qualify. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will administer the program and provinces and territorial governments are providing up to 25 per cent of the costs but the money has yet to arrive.
More to follow...