Liberte Cafe in our beloved Joyce Collingwood neighborhood of Vancouver is under threat. As its patrons and supporters, we are raising a clarion call because this local prospering business faces an unconscionable 120% rent increase. This surge in lease price, if left unchecked, will inevitably drive this cherished establishment away from our neighborhood, taking with it the valuable jobs it provides and the community ties it helps strengthen.

Community businesses are the lifeblood of local economies. Supporting them benefits us all in the form of jobs, taxes, and a bustling neighborhood economy. It is a fact that for every $100 spent at local businesses, $68 stays in the community, compared with just $43 if the same amount were spent at multinational chains ("Local Works!" study, Civic Economics, 2008).

This petition is thus an appeal to our local legislatures, landowners, and economic stakeholders. We urge the institution of safeguards to protect local businesses like Liberte from facing unmanageable rent hikes. By doing so, we encourage economic stability, job security, and the preservation of our vibrant community heritage. Please sign this petition, show your support, and join the movement to ensure local community businesses can renew their leases at a reasonable rate.