Mr. Speaker, my riding of Saint John—Rothesay is currently in the midst of its second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our local small businesses are again bearing the brunt of the economic impact of the increased public health restrictions that are necessary to flatten the curve.
The last three months of the year are when most retailers make more than 40% of their annual revenue. For small retail businesses in our community, the second wave could not have come at a worse time. As a former small business owner, I know first-hand how critical small businesses are to our community. They are truly the backbone of our local economy. That is why I am committed to standing up for small businesses in my riding in the House. I also rise today to encourage the people of my riding to support local small businesses when they do their holiday shopping this year.
This holiday season, let us all give back to those who give our community so much all year, by gifting local.