Business group pushes feds to reconsider new taxes

As people work to get their holiday shopping complete small business owners are dreading the new year.

That’s according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) which is calling on provincial finance ministers to advocate for small businesses.

Vice President of Prairie and Agri-Business Marilyn Braun-Pollon says family businesses face an affordability crisis.

“That’s why we felt it was so important for finance ministers to delay some of these tax hikes,” she said.

Increases include the federal carbon tax, Canadian Pension Plan and changes to passive investment rules and income sprinkling.

“Ninety-six per cent of business owners surveyed in the last week oppose the federal carbon tax,” Braun-Pollon explained.

She told CKOM’s John Gormley that the opposition to the carbon tax has nothing to do with how business owners feel about the environment.

“They’ve already made a lot of changes to their business to help reduce their own carbon footprints,” she said. “And Saskatchewan has an aggressive plan to further reduce that footprint.”

Braun-Pollon said the biggest problem is small businesses are left paying more for the carbon tax.

It’s because unlike big emitters and consumers she said there is no rebates or exemptions for small businesses.

She explains the costs can’t just be passed onto consumers.

“Eighty-two per cent of them (owners surveyed) say they can only pass on 25 per cent or less of the cost,” She said. “It’s extremely unfair.”

Following the results of the survey, the CFIB sent a letter to provincial finance ministers in an effort to have them advocate for small businesses.

The finance ministers from Saskatchewan and Ontario went on to send a joint letter calling on the federal government to reconsider the changes and to do an economic impact study on small and independent businesses.

“Our main message is that small businesses need a break and it doesn’t look like 2019 will be a very happy new year,” Braun-Pollon said.