Mr. Speaker, this week is Tourism Week.
It is a time to celebrate one of Canada's leading industries, tourism.
Unfortunately, it is not to celebrate significant milestones like in the past, such as record-breaking visitor numbers or another new award. Instead, we celebrate the spirit this great industry has to survive and persist, despite the great challenges that the pandemic and the lackluster government response have placed upon it. Tourism was one of the first hit by the pandemic and will likely be the last to recover, but when it does, I know it will be better than ever, showcasing Canada's breathtaking sights and great attractions. Prior to the pandemic, it was one of the fastest-growing industries, making up 2% of Canada's GDP and one of every 11 jobs, and I know that post-recovery those numbers will only continue to grow.
As we mark Tourism Week, we all need to show our tangible support for the employees and small business owners who make up this important sector.
I wish everyone a happy Tourism Week.