As Canada’s premiers meet in Huntsville next week, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has sent a letter to all provincial and territorial premiers, as well as Prime Minister Carney, urging them to ensure small business priorities are at the top of their agenda.
Corinne Pohlmann
“Between tariff uncertainty, rising costs and weak consumer demand, it seems small businesses just can’t catch a break. Canada is losing entrepreneurs, and we can’t improve our sluggish productivity if we don’t make it easier to start, run and grow a business,” said Corinne Pohlmann, Executive Vice-President of Advocacy at CFIB. “Canada’s premiers have the power to truly create one Canadian economy. We hope they use this meeting as an opportunity to ensure small business policies are a key part of their discussions.”
Amid ongoing trade challenges, four in 10 (42%) businesses have been raising prices. Around a third are shifting to domestic markets (37%) or absorbing some or all the additional tariff costs (31%), and a quarter are exploring non-U.S. markets (25%) or delaying expansion plans (29%), said Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members across every industry and region.
To provide small businesses with greater opportunities to grow and compete, CFIB recommends governments:
- Lower the small business tax rate with a plan to get it to 0% and raise the threshold to $700,000.
- Ensure small- to medium-sized firms are included in the planning and execution of major infrastructure projects.
- Quickly return the federally collected tariff revenues to SMEs and clarify the use of the provincial tariff contingency funds.
- Keep the momentum going on internal trade and adopt a unilateral direct-to-consumer alcohol shipment approach, as Manitoba has done.
SeoRhin Yoo
“Businesses need targeted policies that would boost our economy and increase Canada’s global competitiveness. There has never been a better time to build a more productive Canada than now,” said SeoRhin Yoo, senior policy analyst of interprovincial affairs. “We hope to see faster action on key small business priorities following the COF meeting.”
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Entrepreneur. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 and 2024 as one of the top business journalists in the world by PR News. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024 and 2025.
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