Why is Every Other Instagram post a Business Closing?

I spend maybe an hour a week on Instagram - and right now half my feed is Canadian businesses shutting their doors. You've probably noticed this too.

Cafés, bakeries, small manufacturers - gone. Their owners are just… burned out.

After five years of chaos, they’re out of gas. We hear a lot about inflation, interest rates, global trade - and sure, that all matters. But the slow, quiet burnout behind every “thanks for the memories” post rarely gets discussed.

Because then we'd have to talk about:

>> Retail rent in Toronto is up 130% with similar jumps across Canada.
>> Insurance that has doubled, even tripled for some.
>> Supply chains in constant "chaos by design".
>> Business owners that want to retire can't find anyone to buy.

And even if you’re making money, you’re still asking - how long can I keep this up?

Many of us don't start businesses just to chase margins. We start them to create something that matters - good jobs, community, a place people want to be.

And since there's an election going on in Canada right now, the Better Way Alliance is putting some of our best ideas forward. We can fundamentally improve how business gets done in Canada - and Canada's next government can help more of our businesses go from good to great with:

⚖️ Rent rules that are fair and predictable
🎢 Insurance that doesn’t jump by 300% in a year because of an uncompetitive market
✍ More deals getting inked that help young entrepreneurs buy businesses from retiring biz owners
🚁 Funding and education programs to teach small businesses how to hire for retention & productivity

Like you, I want stability. I don't want to doomscroll more of my business owner neighbours closing because they can’t see an endgame anymore. So let’s build local to bolster the global #AdvantageCanada.

Check out the BWA's 2025 Canadian Election ideas.