Page 6 - D17883 - LBMAO - Reporter Jan-Feb 2022 - web optimized

Message from the PRESIDENT

2021 - the year we don't want to

remember!

david campbell will be remembered as the year Don’t you wish we could wave the magic wand,
LBMAO President 2021 that we don’t want to remember! At and all of this would just go away? There is no
the beginning of the year, our country anticipated easy solution, however we can all do our part to
moving forward and getting back to normal with help mitigate the effects of the pandemic. The
all indications that the COVID-19 virus will start protocols that were put in place by the province
to slow its effect on our health and economy. such as social distancing, wearing masks, limiting
Boy, were we wrong! New variants and continual the number of customers in our businesses and
government mandates to slow interactions getting vaccinated are proven methods of reducing
between citizens has impacted the economy more the spread of the virus and it is reflected in the
than any of us would have thought. reduced level of hospitalizations and deaths being
Although our sector has enjoyed robust reported in late winter of 2022. Our members
sales and margins in the past couple of years, have been diligent in enforcing the protocols to
indications are that we will be challenged going keep their employees and customers safe.
into 2022 with inflation, higher interest rates At the time of this writing we are moving out
and unprecedented supply chain of the stage 4 lockdown (I think it is stage 4 or is
problems. The efforts by the it stage 4 lite? It changes all the time!) after most
"We all know provincial and federal governments restaurants, sporting facilities, movie theatres
to mitigate the effects of the virus and gyms have been shut down for over a month.
of friends and on our health care system has no Understanding that the shutdown did help to
relatives who are doubt helped to start reducing drive down the demand on the health system, it
deaths and hospitalizations of those also created severe crises for many people and
being affected by affected seriously with COVID-19 businesses. We need to open up and get the
the virus, either and its variants - but at what cost? economy back up and running at full tilt.
Businesses shut down, people As mentioned above, there are several things
coming down sick unemployed, stress and mental we can all do to move us back to a more normal
health issues affecting all of us. We life however getting vaccinated is demonstrably
with it or being all know of friends and relatives the most important to move the economy forward.
affected financially who are being affected by the Internationally, scientists have suggested that
virus, either coming down sick we will be living with the COVID-19 virus and
and mentally." with it or being affected financially its variants for the foreseeable future and we
and mentally. Initially the federal can expect more “booster shots” as part of our
and provincial governments had everyday life. I have been getting the flu shot for
supported businesses, including this Association, years, tetanus every 10 years, as most of us have,
by subsidizing the effects of reduced income and so we are not exploring new territory with the
rent. This is no longer in place but the effects of booster shots!
the pandemic are still with us in 2022 and many So those of you who are not vaccinated, give
businesses are still struggling. Quite frankly, our your head a shake and get vaccinated to help keep
governments are broke and cannot provide the us all safe!
level of support we received at the beginning of Looking forward to a much more enjoyable
the pandemic. 2022!

6 LBMAO Reporter - January-February 2022 www.lbmao.on.ca