CFIB calls on Parliament to deal with unfinished business as sitting resumes Français

TORONTO, May 21, 2025 /CNW/ - As Parliament gets set to reconvene on May 26, nearly two-thirds (62%) of small business owners are not confident that Canada's new federal government is committed to supporting small business, finds new data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
"Parliament needs to act quickly to address some unfinished business that can provide some much-needed certainty and cost relief to small business owners. It's deeply worrisome and disappointing that the government is not planning to introduce a budget in this sitting as we need a budget to get some important tax policies across the finish line," said Corinne Pohlmann, Executive Vice-President of Advocacy at CFIB.
Some of those key small business priorities that are urgently needed include:
Tariffs: Ensuring that the money collected through Canadian counter tariffs is returned quickly to affected Canadian small businesses.
Carbon tax: Passing legislation to formally eliminate the carbon tax and returning the remaining $600 million in 2024-25 carbon tax rebates to small businesses
Tax-free rebates: Ensuring the small business carbon tax rebates are delivered tax free as promised. Other employer rebates, such as Workers' Compensation Boards (WCB) rebates, must also be delivered tax free to boost the economy.
Capital gains: Delivering on the promised increase to the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption to $1.25 million and implementing the promised Canadian Entrepreneurs' Incentive which would lower capital gains taxes on up to $2 million following a business sale.
Small business tax rate: Lowering the federal small business tax rate from 9% to 0% for the foreseeable future.
Internal trade: Working with provinces to capitalize on the current momentum towards the elimination of internal trade barriers by adopting mutual recognition.
"Ottawa needs to move as quickly as possible on economic and tax reduction policies. The cost of doing business is already high, and tariff-fueled uncertainty could cause irreversible damage if it's not addressed quickly. This government has a long list of outstanding promises to small business owners that it needs to address quickly. It has to provide a clear roadmap for the months ahead," said Jasmin Guenette, CFIB's vice-president of national affairs.
Small business owners can sign CFIB's petition calling on the federal government to lower the costs of doing business.
Methodology
Your Voice – May 2025 survey – Launched May 6, 2025 (ongoing). Results as of May 13, based on 1,420 CFIB member responses. For comparison purposes, a probability sample with the same number of respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.6%, 19 times out of 20.
About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners' chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Cision Canada

3 hours ago

• Cision Canada

Monday, June 23, 2025

OTTAWA, ON, June 22, 2025 /CNW/ - Note: All times local Hoboken, Belgium Brussels, Belgium 3:15 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever. Note for media: Pooled photo opportunity at the beginning of the meeting 5:00 p.m. The Prime Minister will arrive at the Canada-European Union Summit. Note for media: Open coverage 5:05 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Note for media: Pooled photo opportunity at the beginning of the meeting 5:30 p.m. The Prime Minister will participate in the Canada-European Union Plenary Meeting. Note for media: Pooled photo opportunity at the beginning of the meeting 7:10 p.m. The Prime Minister will hold a joint media availability with the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Note for media: Open coverage 7:45 p.m. The Prime Minister will participate in a working dinner hosted by the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Note for media: Official photographers only This document is also available at SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

Canada Standard

3 hours ago

• Canada Standard

Indian delegation in Ireland to attend 40th anniversary memorial of Kanishka bombing

Dublin [Ireland], June 23 (ANI): A high-level Indian delegation led by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri along with BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, and representatives from five states, has arrived in Ireland, to participate in the 40th anniversary memorial of the Air India Kanishka bombing. The commemoration will take place at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork on Sunday. The delegation includes prominent elected representatives, including Arvinder Singh Lovely (Delhi MLA), Baldev Singh Aulakh (Minister from Uttar Pradesh), Gurveer Singh Brar (MLA from Rajasthan), Trilok Singh Cheema (MLA from Uttarakhand), and Narinder Singh Raina (MLA from Jammu and Kashmir). The solemn memorial service will be attended by Ireland's Prime Minister, Micheal Martin, Canada's Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, and several other international dignitaries. This event not only commemorates the 329 innocent victims of the 1985 terror attack but also reinforces the global commitment against terrorism. In a post on X, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, 'On the way from Heathrow to dastardly mid air bombing of Air India Kanishka Flight 182 in 1985 which claimed 329 innocent lives off the Irish Coast remains one of the most inhuman acts of terror in aviation history.I was able to pay tribute to the victims at the Kanishka Memorial at Humber Bay Park in Toronto in September 2019 where I also met family members of several victims who had shared their pain and suffering.' 'On Monday, 23 June 2025, I will lead an Indian delegation comprising senior Punjab leader Sh@tarunchughbjpJi, legislators from several states Sdr@ArvinderLovelyJi, Sdr@BaldevAulakhJi, Sdr@GurveerBrarJi and Sdr Trilok Singh Cheema Ji, to join the Irish Prime Minister HE@MichealMartinTD, Canadian Minister of Public Safety HE Gary Anandasangaree@gary_srpand others, to pay homage to the victims at an event at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork, Ireland in a solemn moment of remembrance and unity, on the 40th anniversary of the reprehensible Kanishka Bombing,' he added. Speaking ahead of the ceremony, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh said, 'The Kanishka bombing was a painful reminder of the brutal face of terrorism, which claimed innocent lives across nations. As I stand on Irish soil, I pay my heartfelt tribute to those who perished, and reaffirm our resolve to unite against terror in all its forms.' (ANI)

Canada News.Net

4 hours ago

• Canada News.Net

Canada warns of retaliation without Trump agreement

OTTAWA, Canada: Canada may boost its counter-tariffs on steel and aluminum imported from the U.S. if a comprehensive trade agreement with President Donald Trump is not finalized within the next 30 days, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced this week. Earlier this month, Trump raised import duties on these metals from 25 percent to 50 percent, prompting the industry to call for Canada to respond officially. This decision could negatively impact Canada, the largest supplier of steel and aluminum to the U.S. Carney stated that he had reached a mutual agreement with Trump to aim for a new economic and security deal by July 21. He emphasized that, based on the progress achieved in the trade negotiations, Canada would modify its existing counter-tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum products by that date. While Carney did not immediately respond to Trump's recent tariff increase, he expressed the desire to see advancements in talks focused on establishing a stronger economic and security alliance. Earlier this year, on March 13, Canada enacted 25 percent retaliatory tariffs on steel products worth C$12.6 billion and aluminum products worth C$3 billion. Furthermore, Canada is introducing new procurement policies that allow Canadian producers and trading partners with tariff-free access to compete for federal contracts involving steel and aluminum. Carney also indicated that Canada intends to create new tariff-rate quotas equal to 100 percent of 2024 levels for steel imported from nations without free trade agreements, aiming to stabilize the domestic market and prevent detrimental trade shifts. Approximately 90 percent of Canada's steel and aluminum exports go to the U.S., while Canada consumes about 20 percent of U.S. steel exports and 50 percent of U.S. aluminum exports, according to the Royal Bank of Canada, underscoring the importance of this trade relationship. Under Carney's leadership, Canada is advancing numerous infrastructure projects, including those related to defense and housing, which will significantly increase the demand for steel and aluminum. "We are committed to supporting the industry by prioritizing Canadian steel and aluminum in federal projects," Carney stated during a press conference.