TORONTO, June 23, 2026 /CNW/ – A majority (84%) of small businesses are concerned that higher fuel costs could negatively affect the summer tourism season, according to new data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
Fuel Costs Squeeze Small Businesses
“Fuel costs have been squeezing small businesses from all sides: at the pump, across their supply chains and in their customers’ wallets. The last thing any of them need is a quiet summer,” said Ryan Mallough, CFIB’s vice-president of legislative affairs. “That’s exactly why we’re encouraging Canadians to get out and explore their communities this summer. Fuel prices may put a dampener on bigger travel plans, but local tourism is a great opportunity for small businesses and their communities.”
#SmallBusinessEveryDay Big Thank You Contest
To help support local businesses and encourage local shopping this summer, CFIB is bringing back its #SmallBusinessEveryDay Big Thank You Contest from June 29 to July 13. The contest invites Canadians to thank their favourite small businesses for the role they play in their communities. The Big Thank You Contest is presented by CFIB in partnership with Chase Payment Solutions, with Interac Corp. (Interac) as prize sponsor. Small business supporters can enter two weekly draws by visiting SmallBusinessEveryDay.ca and leaving a thank you message to their favourite small Canadian business.
Each week, one supporter and the business they thanked will be drawn as winners. The supporter will receive a $1,500 cash prize to spend locally. The business will receive $4,000 and a free one-year CFIB membership. A $4,000 bonus prize will go to the business with the most nominations at the end of the contest, courtesy of Interac.
Economic Impact of Local Spending
“Sixty-six cents of every dollar spent local, stays local,” Mallough said. “If you have a favourite spot, now is a great time to show them some love and say thank you for all they do; it’s not just the business that benefits, it’s the whole community.”
To help businesses participate, CFIB has created free digital toolkits, including printable posters and customizable social images, to promote the contest and shopping local.
Methodology
CFIB Business Outlook Survey based on 973 responses received between May 5 and June 8, 2026. Responses of “Not applicable” (26% of all responses) were excluded from the analysis, and percentages were recalculated based on the remaining valid responses.
About #SmallBusinessEveryDay Big Thank You Contest
The #SmallBusinessEveryDay Big Thank You Contest, created by CFIB, encourages support for independent businesses by inviting Canadians to send thank you messages to their favourite small businesses. Every week from June 29 to July 13 an entrant wins $1,500 cash. The winning businesses will receive a $4,000 cash prize and a one-year CFIB membership. For more information about the contest and to enter, visit SmallBusinessEveryDay.ca. Contest rules can be found at cfib.ca/sbedrules.
