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Let’s Tone Down the Hyperbole and Have a Sensible Discussion of Minimum Wage

Last week, I participated in the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council panel discussion asking the question; what is the right minimum wage for Atlantic Canada? Certainly, one way to get to good public policy is asking the right question. Asking what the right minimum wage for the region is a fair academic question, but we should …

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Construction regulations shouldn’t leave small firms in the dust

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is welcoming an important milestone in our long-term effort to have Halifax adopt a construction mitigation policy. CFIB launched this effort two years ago, acting on concerns small businesses were being devastated by extended construction activity. On Monday, HRM unveiled their work at a public consultation. Protracted construction …

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Of Torches, Pitchforks and the Small Business Business Tax Rate

As the story goes CFIB founder John Bulloch was sitting in his tub reading a federal government white paper on tax reform in 1969. When he saw the government planned to "realign" the economy by raising taxes on small businesses in Canada, he took action. He exposed the scheme in the Toronto Telegram and the …

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An Opportunity for Nova Scotia to do the Right Thing

CFIB has continually asked the provincial government to lower the SBTR and raise the small business tax threshold to the national average of $500,000. With the approach in the latest federal budget, we believe Nova Scotia small businesses should be able to benefit equally from this new rate drop.

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Parsing Nova Scotia’s Partial Budget

Finance Minister Diana Whalen delivered a budget which she says will set a path for economic growth. Perhaps, but there’s still a lot of work to do, especially getting public spending under control and providing much needed clarity on taxes. While small businesses are pleased to see some financial restraint, CFIB remains very concerned about the level of spending in the public service in Nova Scotia. Public sector wage and benefits are outpacing economic growth leaving a deficit and debt burden which is clearly unsustainable. Had previous the government not committed to these generous settlements, the Finance department indicated Nova Scotia would be reporting a $200 million surplus this year. Over 81 percent of small business owners when asked what the Nova Scotia government should do to balance its budget said reduce the size of government and 61 per cent said reduce spending. With significant labour negotiation ahead, CFIB is recommending the government hold the line on public sector wage and benefit settlements.

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Premier McNeil, please don’t raise taxes on small business.

John Bulloch founded the Canadian Federation of Independent Business as a result of the Canadian government's White Paper on Taxation in 1969. The issue of the day was the federal government's consideration of raising the small business tax to generate revenue. Thousands upon thousands of small business owners fought back. It was CFIB’s founding victory. …

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Want to help entrepreneurs? Make Nova Scotia a leader in regulation again, and make it the law.

Regulation is necessary. Some regulation is quite positive, supporting efficiency, business and consumer protection and ensuring the health and security of citizens. Business owners understand this and have no objection to needed rules being administered fairly. Unfortunately, small and medium size businesses are feeling the brutal impact of unnecessary regulation and red tape and it's …

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