CFIB Reaction to Federal Budget 2010

Ottawa, March 4, 2010 – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is pleased to see some measures to tackle the deficit and recognize the contribution of small business in growing the economy and creating jobs but more could have been done. “Building confidence among small business owners will do more to create jobs across Canada than any other measure,” said Catherine Swift, CFIB’s President and CEO. Continue

Business Barometer^® National small business confidence up for second straight month

Toronto, March 3, 2010 – Business confidence among Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses has now grown for two consecutive months – the first time it has done so since the previous summer. According to the latest business confidence survey findings from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the Business Barometer® index rose to 68.5 in February, further building upon January’s 66.9. Continue

Rising EI costs may kill 200,000 jobs EI premiums and cause future surplus to soar

Toronto, February 17, 2010 – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has released a study projecting a return to much higher Employment Insurance (EI) rates and surpluses up to the year 2020. CFIB’s projections go five years beyond the government’s own estimates. Continue

Competition Bureau decision on Interac troubling for small business

Toronto, February 12, 2010 – Today’s decision of the Bureau of Competition Policy to deny Interac’s application to change its status from a not-for-profit to a for-profit entity is regrettable as it is likely to constrain the ability of Interac to compete on a level playing field with new entrants into the Canadian debit marketplace. Continue

Agri-business owners say time for action: CFIB submits open letter in advance of Ministers’ Meeting

Regina, February 4, 2010 – In anticipation of this week’s Agriculture Ministers’ meeting in Toronto, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has sent an open letter to the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture detailing some ways in which government-run Business Risk Management (BRM) programs like AgriStability can be reshaped to help revitalize confidence in the agricultural sector.Continue

Business Barometer ® National small business confidence kicks-off 2010 on a positive note

Toronto, February 3, 2010 – Business confidence among Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses made up for some lost ground in January, providing further evidence of continuing modest growth in the economy. According to the latest business confidence survey findings from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the Business Barometer® index rose to 66.9 in January, up from last month’s index score of 63.7 and nearing levels seen in the September-to-November 2009 period. Continue

EI Training Tax Credit among CFIB pre-budget recommendations for economic roundtable

Toronto, January 26, 2010 – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) will be representing Canada’s small business community at today’s pre-budget roundtable with parliamentary secretary to the minister of finance Ted Menzies. Continue

Small business supports draft code of conduct for debit and credit cards

Ottawa, January 18, 2010 – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has released a supportive response to the Federal Government’s draft code of conduct for the credit and debit card industry in Canada, stressing quick adoption, strong oversight and an interim strategy.Continue

BC and NS are fighting fit, AB and MB rotund—all governments need to do more in 2010 to shed red tape

Toronto/Montréal, January 14, 2010 – To wrap up the country’s first ever Red Tape Awareness Week, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is appointing itself as personal trainer to Canadian governments for the coming year and beyond. Instead of focusing on the shedding of calories, however, CFIB will be evaluating provincial performance and challenging all provinces, municipalities and the federal government to make getting serious about reducing red tape a 2010 New Year’s resolution.Continue

Small biz to Gov: Ten red tape-trimming targets for 2010

Toronto, January 13, 2010 – With the country’s first ever Red Tape Awareness Week now underway, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is proposing ten specific areas for governments to work on in 2010 that will lighten the $30 billion annual load for Canada’s businesses.Continue

Putting a face to the over $30 billion strain red tape has on Canadian businesses

Toronto, January 12, 2010 – With the country’s first ever Red Tape Awareness Week now underway, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has released a video account of an actual small business owner’s frustrations with the bloated regulatory load they are forced to endure. Continue

Kicking Off Red Tape Awareness Week Red Tape continues to be a $30.5 billion liability for businesses – smaller firms hit hardest

Toronto, January 11, 2010 – To kick-off the country’s first ever Red Tape Awareness Week, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has released a report revealing that the annual costs associated with red tape totals an estimated $30.5 billion. While this amount is a slight improvement on CFIB’s 2005 estimate of $30.9 billion, the message to government remains clear across the country – regulatory costs are still far too high.Continue

A cartoon is worth a 1000 words when it comes to reducing red tape

Toronto, January 8, 2010 – As a part of the first ever Red Tape Awareness Week, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has created a cartoon to illustrate the frustrations a small business owner faces while dealing with government regulations.Continue

Gearing up for Canada’s first ever Red Tape Awareness Week

Toronto, January 7, 2010 – In anticipation of the Country’s first ever Red Tape Awareness Week, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is heralding a number of initiatives aimed at broadcasting awareness and promoting education concerning the negative effects of excessive government regulation and the resultant need for reductions. Red Tape Awareness Week will be taking place the week of January 11th-15th. Continue

Business Barometer ® National small business confidence shows a not so jolly holiday season

Toronto, January 6, 2010 – Business confidence among Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses lost ground in December, suggesting that the economy is still only recovering at a gradual pace. According to the latest business confidence survey findings from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the Business Barometer® index fell to 63.7 in December, from 68.0 a month earlier. Continue