CFIB urges premiers to end trade barriers, lower business tax rates
· Toronto Sun
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OTTAWA — While Canada’s premiers prepare to convene in Charlottetown this week, Canada’s small businesses are calling for some relief.
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Ahead of this week’s Council of the Federation meeting, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is sounding the alarm on issues directly impacting small business owners — specifically concerning the ongoing “entrepreneurial drought” that’s seeing business closures far outpace new openings.
“Small businesses across Canada are under mounting pressure from every angle,” said the CFIB’s Keyli Loeppky, who explained that global trade uncertainty, rising costs, weak consumer demand, and limited access to capital are all contributing to the death of entrepreneurship in this country.
“We’re in an entrepreneurial drought, and Canada cannot afford to keep losing entrepreneurs or discouraging business growth. Governments that want a stronger, more resilient economy must put small business priorities at the centre of their agenda.”
No movement on breaking down internal trade barriers
The CFIB is urging Canada’s premiers to support entrepreneurship and economic growth in Canada by delivering federal small business tax relief, and accelerate efforts to tear down internal trade barriers.
Reducing the federal business tax rate to six per cent, as well as increasing deduction thresholds to $700,000, would save small business owners upwards of $33,000 per year, the federation claims.
And despite provincial and federal politicians — including Prime Minister Mark Carney — making hay out of breaking down provincial trade barriers, the CFIB says very little has been done.
Data provided by the CFIB shows 69% of their members reported no improvement over the past year, while 16% said the situation’s only gotten worse.
“One of the clearest examples is direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping,” Loeppky said.
“Despite broad support and repeated commitments, most provinces have yet to follow through even though the deadline was set for May. They are now 50 days late. When governments fail to deliver on agreed-upon reforms, confidence erodes and businesses are left bearing the consequences.”
That’s the subject of a private member’s bill tabled in the House of Commons by Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna MP Dan Albas, which if passed would allow businesses to ship beer, wine and spirits from one end of Canada to the other.
That bill has made no movement in the House since passing first reading on March 9.
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