More than 4,000 Saskatchewan small businesses have raised their concerns about the provincial economy with the hope these concerns will receive attention during the provincial election campaign coming up in the fall.
The results come from a Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) membership survey.
“The last four years has been challenging,” CFIB provincial affairs director Brianna Solberg said. “Coming out of the pandemic has not been easy.”
Solberg said only four per cent of Saskatchewan small business owners survyed are very confident their concerns and priorities will receive attention during the campaign leading up to the provincial election. She said labour shortages, rising costs, and high interest rates are all major concerns. Roughly 77 per cent of respondents said they were not very confident their concerns would receive attention during the provincial election campaign.
“All we want is for the province to help the small scale business owners in taking action on some challenges,” Solberg said.
Solberg added that they have sent all their pre-election survey data to provincial party leaders and also requested meetings with them to discuss their concerns. To secure the small business vote, Solberg said party leaders must do a better job of outlining their plans to aid small firms and encourage economic growth.
The survey revealed that of the Saskatchewan small business owners who plan to vote in the upcoming election, 60 per cent have decided who they will vote for, while 40 per cent have not.
“The next provincial government has the opportunity to either help, or hinder small businesses and overall economic growth,” said Tyler Slobogian, CFIB Senior Policy Analyst. “High inflation, the increased costs of rent and insurance, labour shortages, and increased crime and safety concerns should all be considered as the next government sets its policy agenda.”
“The state of small scale businesses is very concerning and that is why we are out now before the election,” Solberg added.
The CFIB has recommended the next government freeze or cut the small business corporate tax rate, which currently sits at one per cent. The CFIB also wants a reduction or suspension of provincial fuel taxes, the removal of the PST on commercial property insurance and dine-in restaurant meals, and no SaskPower or SaskEnergy rate increases.
The organization has also called for a more predictable minimum wage increase formula, action to address labour shortages, and the introduction of a small business rebate program similar to one setup in British Columbia.
Holberg added that the CFIB is non-partisan, so they aren’t hoping to get one party elected over another. She said they just want to make sure their members’ voices are heard.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 97,000 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.
