Now is the time for the government to show they are small biz friendly
CALGARY, August 31, 2015 – Following Finance Minister Joe Ceci’s first quarter fiscal update, indicating a balanced budget will be tabled within three years, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released survey results outlining positive steps the NDP government can take to restore optimism among Alberta’s entrepreneurs.
When asked, Which of the following would improve your confidence that the new government is small business friendly? (Maximum of three responses) Keeping Alberta free from a provincial sales tax (80%), balancing the budget by 2017 (49%), and lowering the small business corporate income tax rate (37%) were the top suggestions from entrepreneurs.
“The provincial government has been getting it right when it comes to rejecting new damaging taxes such as a provincial sales tax. Accelerating the timeline for a balanced budget is also a small business friendly policy that needs to be pursued,” said Amber Ruddy, Alberta Director for CFIB.
CFIB looks forward to sitting down with the Finance Minister in the coming weeks to present ideas and recommendations for both Budget 2015 and Budget 2016.
“Entrepreneurs are dealing with an economy that has taken a turn for the worst, and if the government can focus on concrete measures such as lowering small business taxes, business owners might just find the reprieve they are looking for,” said Ruddy.
A full written CFIB submission will detail the small business friendly policies that should be pursued.
Findings are based on 973 responses in Alberta, collected from CFIB members in a controlled-access web survey. Data reflect responses received June 19-29.
CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses with 109,000 members across every sector and region, including 10,000 in Alberta.