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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 10 ,2 02 2 | 14 SAVING YOU MORE For more details shop instore or online at thebrick.com ON NOW AT THE BRICK! W ith over 45 restaurants across Ontario,Lazeez Shawarma knows only toowell how the local restaurant industry has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, when they heard about the Largest Restaurant Gift Card Support Program, the Lazeez Shawarma family upped the ante and became the largest program sponsor by donating a record-setting $10,000 in gift cards! Spearheaded by The Mississauga News and Brampton Guardian in cooperation and Champions of the Cause (like-minded community business owners), the Largest Restaurant Support Program will see thousands of dollars of $10 and $20 gift cards purchased from small to mid-sized family or independently owned restaurants. The Champions of the Cause will distribute the cards in the community as a way of thanking customers and staff, while encouraging card holders to go and visit a local restaurant (and hopefully spend over and above the value of the gift card). "We are all hurting in the restaurant industry, but I honestly feel privileged to have this opportunity and to be in the position to be able to give back to our community," says Sahib Rana, Co-Founder/Franchise Manager of Lazeez Shawarma. "The Restaurant Gift Card Program is close to my heart because I've been in Canada for over three decades; my daughters were born here, and this is our home. Like goodneighbours, we help each other. These are tough times for the restaurant industry but when the going gets tough, the tough get going. If the communities keep supporting the local businesses, we will get through this turbulence. We hope that what we are doing will encourage other businesses to step up and help." Gautam Sharma, Advertising Director of Metroland Peel Region is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support shown by local businesses and their eagerness to help support the restaurant industry. "By initiating the largest gift certificate program in Ontario to support our local struggling restaurants, theMississaugaNewsand our Champions of the Cause have come together to build a culture of giving and sharing in our community," says Gautam Sharma, Advertising Director of The Mississauga News and Brampton Guardian. "The record-setting commitment by the Lazeez Shawarma family reflects their culture of giving back to the community." Lazeez Shawarma has a long history of philanthropy including organizing food drives to support local food banks and The Food Drive in Support of the Nav Bhatia SuperFan Foundation. The restaurant group also supports organizations such as Refugee Girls Worldwide, Diabetes Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Khalsa Aid and others. Every Canada Day, some 9,000 Canadian flags are handed out free at their locations across Ontario. Sahib says the $10,000 of gift cards will be handed out to front line workers throughout Ontario and he is working with various organizations to help co-ordinate the effort. "Our first priority with the gift card program is to donate the gift cards to front line workers as a way of saying thank you," says Sahib. "Front line workers are the backbone of our community, and it is important for us to show appreciation for their demanding work and sacrifices. It is so important for us to say, 'thanks for being there for us and we appreciate all you do.' I have found purpose in being involved with healthcare in our country. Our eldest daughter, Dr. Munsa Rana, is an optometrist and just opened Eyeology clinic in Brampton. Together we have been involved with Canadian EyeSight Global for nearly 20 years providing screening and glasses to those in need. Canada has provided a safe and healthy environment for my family and giving back comes naturally." Lazeez is a six-time consecutive winner of the Readers' Choice Awards for Favourite Middle Eastern Restaurant inMississauga andBrampton. For more information and to find the nearest Lazeez location, visit lazeezshawarma.com LAZEEZ SHAWARMA DONATES A RECORD- SETTING $10,000 TO SAY THANK YOU TO FRONT LINE WORKERS AS PART OF RESTAURANT SUPPORT PROGRAM ADVERTORIAL The provincial govern- ment remains committed to protecting the health of Ontarians. This pandemic is dy- namic, and a cautious plan is being followed to reopen the province. I know that we all want to return to a pre-pandemic Ontario, and we will get there. The province has out- lined the gradual ease- ment of public health mea- sures, and advancement through the steps is well underway. On Jan. 31, based on im- proving health indicators and medical expert advice, certain public health mea- sures were lifted that in- cluded: • Increasing social gath- ering limits to 10 people in- doors and 25 people out- doors. • Increasing or main- taining capacity limits at 50 per cent in indoor public settings in establishments such as restaurants and cinemas. • Enabling spectators in facilities with capacity limits. Looking toward the next several weeks, fur- ther action will be taken to remove health measures. On Feb. 21, capacity limits will change, which will in- clude the following: • Increasing social gath- ering limits to 25 people in- doors and 100 people out- doors. • Increasing capacity limits to 100 per cent in venues where proof of vac- cination is required, such as restaurants, cinemas, and meeting and event spaces. • Capacity limited to permit physical distancing for businesses such as per- sonal care services, malls, and retailers. After three weeks, on March 14, Ontario will take the next step that will: • Lift capacity limits in all public settings. • Increase social gather- ing limits to 50 people in- doors with no limits out- doors. • Lift remaining capaci- ty limits on religious ser- vices, rites or ceremonies. I know the last few months have not been easy. Further relief has been provided to businesses and families to reduce the bur- den. The provincial govern- ment created new support programs, including an ad- ditional grant of $10,000 for eligible businesses, imple- mented a hydro price re- duction on Jan. 18, for three weeks to 8.2 cents per kilo- watt-hour, and introduced the Business Costs Rebate Program to subsidize ener- gy costs and property tax for eligible businesses. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and I encour- age everyone to support lo- cal businesses. Stephen Crawford is the MPP for Oakville. He can be reached at ste- phen.crawford- co@pc.ola.org. OUTLINING ONTARIO'S 'ROADMAP TO REOPEN' OPINION CAUTIOUS PATH BEING TAKEN BY PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, WRITES STEPHEN CRAWFORD STEPHEN CRAWFORDColumn