Chris Chopik, the Green Party candidate in the St. Paul’s by-election, pledges to be a strong voice for independent businesses at Queen’s Park. Chopik believes that supporting local businesses is key to maintaining a vibrant, prosperous community and economy.

Chopik stresses the importance of buying local for the economy, the community and the environment. He advocates for a review of policies that affect small and medium business in order to ensure a fair playing field. He also calls on the government to increase funding for programs that support independent businesses, particularly those that facilitate commercialization of green technology.

A respected realtor and community leader in St. Paul’s, Chopik understands the challenges facing local businesses. “It benefits everyone to support local businesses and keep our money circulating in the community.” Small and medium-sized enterprises are traditionally important sources for new jobs. Chopik called on the Liberal government to establish local procurement policies in public contracts. There is a procurement practice on the Ministry of Government Services web site that states that ‘Ontario government does not apply any preference for local vendors’. “Our tax dollars should stay in our communities by supporting our local businesses. The current government is focused on bailing out the old economy, while forgetting about how critically important small and medium enterprises are to our economy and community,” says Chopik.

“St. Paul’s needs a strong voice for our local businesses, and I intend to be that voice,” declares Chopik.

Media Contact: Michael Jones, Campaign Communications, Chris Chopik for MPP, St. Paul’s, mjones@gpo.ca; 416-697-8701