Thank you very, Madam Chair.
Thank you very much to all of our witnesses for this really important testimony for a really important part of the Canadian economy.
I for one spent most of my life in the tourism industry. I was a sales and marketing manager for the largest independent hotel in northern Ontario. I managed Searchmont ski resort, which was the largest mountain, as we used to say, between the Rockies and the Laurentians. I used to be chair of the Sault College hospitality advisory committee.
I totally get what everyone is saying and how important this industry is. I met my wife. She was working in the tourism industry. We bought a house together and raised our family. What we need to do and ought to do is to make sure that we continue to support the tourism industry.
Madam Chair, as I introduce myself to some of the panellists who don't know me, I want to ask David how important the supports were, including the wage subsidy that, David, you and a whole bunch of other people advocated for so strongly along with those changes that happened.
David, you made some comments about some of the supports that have recently been passed through the 2022 budget for the tourism industry to continue to support you as you recover, as we now start to see levels of travel increasing, which is a good thing. Perhaps you could address some of those comments regarding the kinds of supports that have helped the industry and what kinds of supports will continue to help the industry.