Photo: Theos Restaurant

Gregory Condon

A beloved Penticton restaurant is crying foul over the federal government's handling of their request for pandemic wage subsidy help this summer.

Theo's restaurant has operated in Penticton for over 40 years, but was purchased by Gregory Condon in July of 2019. Less than a year into his ownership, the pandemic hit and he was forced to shut down. 

Condon is grateful for the government assistance he received for March, April, and June — but as of July, he says he no longer qualifies for the wage subsidy program.

"It's kind of a David vs. Goliath story," Condon says. "We are looking for equality and fairness."

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy eligibility is calculated each month either by comparing the revenue earned by a business in the same calendar month in 2019, or the average revenue earned in January and February 2020. 

Because he didn't own the restaurant at this time last year, Condon is not allowed to compare sales at the restaurant year-over-year.

Instead, he says he has to use the very slow months of January and February as a comparison to prove the pandemic's impact on his business, rather than the typically booming summer months. He is looking at a huge loss this season.

"It's mathematically impossible to achieve last year's sales with half capacity," Condon said.

He's not concerned about the restaurant going under, but he feels he's been put at a competitive disadvantage.

When he took his case to Richard Cannings, MP for South Okanagan — West Kootenay, Cannings agreed, telling Condon this is a serious issue.

Cannings raised the issue in the virtual House of Commons.

"The new owner can't use a year-to-year comparison to apply for the wage subsidy, because he didn't own the restaurant last spring. He's forced to use receipts from January and February, the darkest doldrums of the restaurant year to compare with the results from May, traditionally one of their best months," Cannings explained.

"When will the government fix this inequity and let Theo's compete and survive?"

Unfortunately, Cannings' question went unanswered by Minister of Middle Class Prosperity Mona Fortier.

"I'm not asking to milk the cow on both ends, I'm just asking for fair and equal treatment. Many of my competitors are using the money to stay afloat. It's a competitive advantage," Condon said.