Red tape affects all Canadians but the burden of red tape falls most heavily and directly on the smallest businesses. These firms have the fewest resources to apply to these demands yet it is they that are on the frontlines of dealing with regulators.
Canada’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises were a key factor in its recovery from the economic downturn. Though recent growth has been less than ideal, CFIB members want the federal government to keep to its current budget objectives by avoiding major tax or spending increases, and focus its efforts on supporting the growth of small businesses and job creation.
After calling for a freeze of Employment Insurance (EI) rates in 2012, small business owners can breathe a half sigh of collective relief with an announcement by the federal government to lower the expected Employment Insurance (EI) premium rate increase by half.
Canada’s union leaders may say that pension reform is simply a matter of hiking CPP/QPP premiums in order to give Canadians double the benefits. The real crisis lies in unsustainable public sector pension commitments and the giant gap between private and public sector pensions. You should not be asked for one more cent in payroll tax until federal and provincial governments fix Canada’s pension unfairness.
Every time you pay with a credit card, a percentage of your purchase goes to the credit card company and bank. The more often you pay with a credit card, the more money goes to the credit card companies and banks in the form of transaction fees charged to the merchant... The less income the merchant has available to pay staff, suppliers...sponsor the local baseball team...or even send their own child to summer camp... The fix is easy, though. Just consider paying with cash or debit. Where ever you can, avoid compelling the independent merchant to pay the credit card companies.
