Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They provide communities with the goods and services we need in good times and bad.
I recently hosted a round table with business owners from across North Okanagan—Shuswap and heard how the current government had failed small businesses, hurting business owners. One business operator shared how she spent more than three hours on the phone with CRA, but still could not access the CEBA program, and she is not the only one.
Small businesses do not need the government's “please hold” messages or the mounting debt. They need programs and services that they can actually access. We know the government listens to Bay Street, but it is time it started to listen to main street.
During this giving season and, indeed, all year long, we can give back to our local small businesses by choosing to shop local. I hope all Canadians will make that choice to support their local small businesses now and throughout the year.