You can’t turn around without hearing a buy local message these days, or in the case of the Chamber of 
Commerce, #LoveLocalPtbo.
There is a good reason for it. This pandemic has been unfairly harsh on small local companies, and the more we can do to support them, the better. I thought this week I’d provide a mash-up between the top ten reasons to support local business, and 12 specific ways to do it, a riff on the 12 days of Christmas.  

Starting with the Top Ten:
1. Discover interesting things & people - One-of-a-kind shops and restaurants are part of what makes our community a great place to live!
2. Support for Not-For-Profits – Support local business owners, who in turn provide significant support for not-for-profits and charities!
3. Reduces environmental impact - By shopping locally, you're contributing to less pollution, traffic congestion, habitat loss and resource depletion!
4. Personal Connection - Getting to know the store owners and employees is a great reason to shop local. 
5. Make a Personal Investment in the Community - When you shop locally, you're making a personal investment. 
6. Support Future Growth - Shopping locally is the best way to show pride in your community and help protect the businesses that make our City and County unique!
7. Keep Money Local - Local businesses are more likely to shop with other local 
businesses, keeping money in our local economy longer.
8. Local Businesses Invest in our Community - Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community's welfare and future.
9. Competition & Diversity leads to more consumer choices - Local competition and diversity lead to more product choices for customers.
10. Locally Made Products - When you shop at local businesses, you're likely getting something that's unique and exclusive!

And here are 12 specific ways to support local businesses, sing along if you are really into it!
12 days of a local Christmas...
On the first day of Christmas: buy a gift card from a local business.
On the second day of Christmas: leave a positive google review of a local business.
On the third day of Christmas: share a social media post of a local business.
On the fourth day of Christmas: reward yourself with a holiday treat from a local coffeehouse or bakery for shoveling the driveway yet again.
On the fifth day of Christmas: shop the e-commerce site of a local business.
On the sixth day of Christmas: send a handwritten thank-you note to a local business who has supported a community group, team or cause close to your heart.
On the seventh day of Christmas: tag a friend in a local business' post if you see something they might like.
On the eighth day of Christmas: Follow or friend a local business on social media.
On the ninth day of Christmas: buy stocking stuffers from local artisans.
On the tenth day of Christmas: leave a positive personal review on a local business' Facebook page.
On the eleventh day of Christmas: share - through word of mouth or on social media - some of your 
favourite local businesses.
On the twelfth of Christmas: enjoy some take-out from a local restaurant to reward yourself for wrapping all those presents!
Happy Holidays!

Guest Editorial – Peterborough and District Construction Association (PDCA)

From commercial buildings to residential homes — and everything in between — the PDCA is literally building our community and preparing our region for a prosperous future. 
The Peterborough District Construction Association was established in 1960 with its main objective: to foster and advance the construction industry in East-Central Ontario by representing its members, promoting suitable legislation and unifying the various branches of the industry.
Sixty years years later, it’s clear that the positive impact of the PDCA extends far beyond their world-class 
projects and has a positive ripple effect on our economy as a whole. The PDCA consists of over 140 members from a range of disciplines and backgrounds in the industrial, commercial, institutional and residential construction industries. All members are passionate about quality, integrity, and raising the profile of this region’s capabilities and workmanship. 
The PDCA is committed to growth and maintenance and believe that supporting the local industry and 
advocating for rules and regulation that benefits our members also supports a healthy local economy.  Given the current COVID-19 climate, harnessing local industries to lift our local economies is more important than ever. The buildings and infrastructure the members are responsible for not only prepare our cities for a successful and prosperous future, they support each worker and that worker’s family every step of the way. 
On average, the PDCA creates over 150 projects each year, which includes hiring over 3000 workers for those projects. When you think about it, that’s a lot of money going back into the local economy and 
supporting other local businesses. And the numbers don’t lie, in 2014, the PDCA’s payroll was over 130 million dollars, with an impact on the local economy hitting 250 million dollars. Keep in mind that these numbers are from over 5 years ago and since then, our region has seen a significant boost in population (mostly from people in the GTA). So, it’s safe to assume that these numbers have gone up significantly, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, whenever companies from in and around the GTA work on projects within our region, the amount of money that stays within the local 
economy drastically decreases. This is one of the main reasons the PDCA is continuing to raise the profile of its member companies and tradespeople. The PDCA will work to ensure that their proven track record within our own community is a known entity and becomes top of mind with those investing in the local infrastructure. 
In the coming months, the PDCA will be taking steps to ensure more people know which members are 
associated with the PDCA, so decision-makers can easily make more locally conscious choices that employ more local people, keep more money within our region, and directly stimulate the economy. Understandably, it’s hard to choose companies with a local connection, if you’ve never heard of them in the first place. That’s why the PDCA will build awareness with the general public and create a groundswell highlighting the need to secure more contracts that directly impact everyone who lives in and around our region. To make up from all the losses that took place during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the PDCA plans to do whatever it takes to ensure this happens. The PDCA will advocate, petition and lobby for changes in all levels of government and push for the recognition and opportunity our highly skilled workforce so greatly deserves. In this day and age, any steps we can take to help put (and keep) more dollars in the pockets of those who have a direct connection with the region that we eat, sleep and play in, is a step in the right direction and something we should all be championing. 
To learn more about the PDCA and their members, feel free to visit 
peterboroughconstructionassociation.ca

On Monday (November 30), the Government of Canada announced its 2020 Fall Economic Statement, offering the clearest picture of federal finances and economic assumptions in over a year. The Statement reaffirms the economic road ahead remains long and challenging even after a vaccine for COVID-19 is approved and deployed in Canada. 
The numbers can be startling:

• Total support offered during the pandemic is over $490 billion.  
• The federal deficit for this year is $381.6 billion. 
• The federal net-debt is $1.2 trillion. 

To carry the weight of the country’s growing fiscal obligations, the Government continues to rely more on borrowing at low rates for longer terms, than on expanding economic growth.  
Here is a summary of some of the key new features:
Targeted Stimulus to Jumpstart Recovery 

• To ensure a robust and resilient recovery, the government is developing the details of a plan to help Canada build back better, by preparing to invest up to $100 billion over the next three fiscal years – roughly valued at between 3 to 4 per cent of GDP.

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy 

• Given the ferocity of the second wave and its expected economic impact, the government is proposing to increase the maximum subsidy rate to 75 per cent for the period beginning December 20, 2020 and to extend this rate until March 13, 2021, to provide greater certainty to employers. 

The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy 

• To provide certainty to businesses and other organizations, the government is proposing to extend the current subsidy rates of the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy for an additional three periods. This means a base subsidy rate of up to 65 per cent will be available on eligible expenses until March 13, 2021. 

Support for Highly Affected Sectors 

• The government will work with financial institutions in the near term to create the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) – a new program for the hardest hit businesses, including those in sectors like tourism and hospitality, hotels, arts and entertainment. This stream will offer 100 percent government-guaranteed financing for heavily impacted businesses, and provide low-interest loans of up to $1 million over extended terms, up to ten years. 

Support for Tourism and Hospitality 

• Recognizing the importance of the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund in supporting local tourism businesses, the government will earmark a minimum of 25 per cent of all the Fund’s resources to support local tourism businesses, providing more than $500 million in program support through June 2021. 

Support for Innovative Businesses 

• To ensure that innovative, intellectual property-rich firms have the support they need to face the challenges presented by COVID-19, it is proposed that $250 million over 5 years, beginning in 2021-22, be provided to the Strategic Innovation Fund. 

Simplifying the Home Office Expense Deduction 

• Allowing employees who are working from home due to COVID-19 and eligible to claim home office expenses to deduct up to $400 in 2020 using a simplified flat rate, and generally do not request form T2200 from these employees. 

Additional measures include: changes to the GST/HST system; to ensure that the GST/HST applies in a fair and effective manner to the growing digital economy, including leveling the playing field between resident and non-resident vendors, (Think Amazon, Air BnB, etc.); work towards a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care System; enhancements to Employment Insurance, help for young people by supporting up to 120,000 job placements through Canada Summer Jobs in 2021-22 – an increase of 40,000 from 2020-21 levels; additional Investments in Training and Skills, Energy Retrofits and more.
For full details on the Fall Economic Statement, visit our website peterboroughchamber.ca