{TitleAbbEng} {ParlFirstName} {ParlLastName}

House of Commons

Ottawa, ON

K1A 0A6

{SalutationLtrE} {SalutationEng} {ParlLastName},

Re: Action Needed to Save Restaurants in Our Riding

Our local restaurants in {ConstituencyName} need your support now more than ever.

As a constituent working in our local foodservice industry, I am seeking your personal support now.

Beyond serving delicious food, restaurants are an important source of local jobs, contribute to charitable causes and provide spaces where we can get together with friends and family.

COVID-19 has taken a devastating toll on our operations and many local foodservice businesses might not be able to recover. According to survey data from Restaurants Canada:

·       Nearly 1 out of 10 restaurant operators have had to permanently close an establishment.

·       3 out of 4 restaurant operators are very concerned about their current level of debt.

·       1 out of 2 independent restaurants say they might not survive the next 3 months.

Restaurants need immediate support in the coming days – not weeks – in order to pull through this crisis and be able to continue serving our communities once this is all over.

While all levels of government have made extraordinary efforts to respond with emergency relief measures, restaurants are going to need more support as part of the transition to recovery.

On April 23, Restaurants Canada presented recommendations to the federal finance committee, laying out what these businesses will need to recover from COVID-19. The federal government has already announced measures that respond to some of the recommendations that were put forward. While these actions are very much welcome, there is still work to be done to ensure that our local restaurants will be able to open their doors to diners again.

As my MP in {ConstituencyName}, I am asking that you work with your colleagues in Parliament to support our local restaurants with what we continue to need in the following key areas:

1.    Rent assistance

2.    Tax relief

3.    Help with cash flow and rising debt levels

4.    Assistance with labour costs

Thank you for your work and support during these unprecedented circumstances.

Sincerely,

{name}

{address}

{email}