Ontario politicians and Scarborough business leaders met Friday to discuss how severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has impacted the business community and to brainstorm ways to repair Toronto's image as a safe place to visit.

During the meeting at Scarborough's Delta Toronto East Hotel, organized by Scarborough-Agincourt MP Jim Karygiannis, several people suggested ways to counteract the city's image as a hotbed for the disease.

Toronto Catholic School Board Trustee Michael Del Grande (Ward 7, Scarborough/North York), said the city needs to hold a 'welcome home' campaign to assure Toronto is a safe place to live and do business.

"Virtually every home should have a 'welcome to my home' banner. We also need welcome back discounts throughout Toronto to generate people coming back. We should also have a celebration party or a parade to identify the heroes in all this."

He also suggested those in quarantine be compensated for time off and the Chinese community should be frequenting Chinese businesses on a regular basis to show there is nothing to fear.

Horace Chan, district vice-president of Canada Trust, said at this point customers haven't requested financial assistance due to SARS but only time will tell if it becomes necessary.

"We haven't seen a problem yet but that might still come. Right now we are working on a short-term strategy to help customers financially. Our biggest concern is the small business owners."

Ian Raynor, first vice-president of the Scarborough Chamber of Commerce, said up until the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a travel advisory stating only those with essential business in Toronto travel to the city, government officials were content to leave the battle against SARS up to health professionals.

"We have to deal with this on a business level but we can't do this on our own. We have to do our best to get through this and get back to work."

Ontario Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty was at the meeting and he said would encourage the provincial government to ensure the necessary resources are available to contain SARS.

"The pre-requisite for a long-term solution is the truth and we are all ambassadors of the truth. If SARS is a highly contagious disease, there should be hundreds of thousands and possibly millions infected. Toronto is a safe city. We not only have to say it but we have to believe it."

Ward 40 Councillor Norm Kelly (Scarborough-Agincourt) said N-95 masks shouldn't be available to the general public because they aren't needed.

"Only healthcare workers need to be wearing masks. We need to get rid of the masks because they are killing us. The masks have become the face of Toronto."

Karygiannis said a second meeting with Scarborough business professionals will be held late next week.