Mr. Chair, in my riding of Davenport many businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and small businesses have been faced with even more significant declines in revenue over the past year. They have continued to demonstrate extreme resilience in their adaptation to changing public health guidelines. A number of local businesses in my riding have adapted by offering curbside pickup and launching online stores, such as Three Fates, the TuckShop and the Dufferin Grove Farmers' Market, and many residents continue to get the necessities they need through these online businesses.
I know that ministers have spent a lot of time building programs that will help small and medium-sized businesses ongoing. Can the Associate Minister of Finance please speak about the importance of small businesses in our community, and how our budget aims to continue to support them through the recovery process?