Small Business Votes! 2026 Manitoba Municipal Election

Make sure your next municipal leaders put small business priorities on the agenda! 

Municipal elections matter for your business. Manitobans head to the polls on October 28, 2026, to elect their next municipal leaders. These local leaders will make decisions that directly affect the cost and day-to-day realities of operating a business, including property taxes, municipal spending, permits, construction, infrastructure, and community safety. 

Small business owners cannot afford to sit this election out. Your vote can help elect municipal leaders who understand what local businesses need to operate, invest, and grow. 

Your vote can shape municipal policies on property taxes, spending, red tape, construction, infrastructure, and crime and safety. CFIB is here to make sure small business priorities are heard. 

What is CFIB asking of Manitoba’s next municipal leaders?

Manitoba’s small business owners are sending a clear message: municipal councils need to pay greater attention to the conditions in which local businesses operate.

In CFIB’s 2026 Manitoba municipal election survey, 77% of respondents said their local municipal council has not paid enough attention to the needs of small businesses. When asked which municipal issues negatively affect their business, owners cited property taxes (56%), crime and safety (49%) and red tape (47%) as top issues for their next municipal leaders to address.

The results from our survey form the basis of CFIB’s key small business priorities for Manitoba’s next municipal leaders. These priorities are outlined below.

Key small business election asks and priorities

To secure the small business vote in the 2026 municipal election, candidates should make clear, measurable commitments in four areas:

1. Keep costs fair and predictable

• Review municipal services and operations for efficiencies before increasing taxes.
• Adopt responsible multi-year spending and tax plans so businesses can prepare for future costs.
• Assess options for a small business property tax subclass to improve tax fairness.
• For Winnipeg Candidates: establish a plan to phase out and eliminate the municipal Business Tax

2. Reduce red tape and improve municipal service delivery

• Establish and publish clear service standards for permitting, licensing and inspections.
• Simplify outdated bylaws, forms, and approval processes.
• Expand user-friendly digital services and publicly report performance against service targets.

3. Help build safe and accessible business districts

• Prioritize safety, cleanliness, lighting, and maintenance in commercial areas.
• Coordinate municipal enforcement, policing and community support to respond to persistent safety concerns.
• Consult local businesses before making changes to parking, loading zones, transit routes or street access.

4. Minimize construction disruption and deliver infrastructure effectively

• Consult affected businesses early and provide clear, reliable project timelines when businesses will be impacted by public construction projects.
• Coordinate projects through a “dig once” approach and maintain customer and delivery access wherever possible.
• Assign a project liaison, provide effective signage, and communicate schedule changes promptly.
• Offer targeted compensation or relief when severe and prolonged municipal construction causes significant business losses.

Read CFIB’s 2026 Manitoba Municipal Election Platform

What is CFIB doing?

CFIB is actively working with Manitoba’s municipal candidates to advance policies that make communities more affordable, efficient, safe and competitive for small businesses. Our efforts include:

• Sharing CFIB’s municipal election platform with municipal candidates across Manitoba;
• Meeting with candidates to advocate for policy changes that promote affordability and lower the cost of doing business;
• Engaging media to bring greater attention to the municipal issues affecting small businesses; and
• Using direct feedback from Manitoba business owners to advocate before and after Election Day.

How can you take action?

1. Read and share CFIB’s 2026 Manitoba Municipal Election Platform.
2. Ask your local candidates how they will keep costs fair, reduce red tape, improve community safety and minimize construction disruption.
3. Share your story with CFIB so we can help amplify your voice.
4. Vote on October 28th!

Who is running in my municipality and how can I vote?

Visit your municipality’s official website for information about registered candidates, voter eligibility, advance voting and voting locations:

• Manitoba municipal election information
• City of Winnipeg: 2026 election and registered candidates
• City of Brandon: 2026 election
• City of Portage la Prairie: 2026 election
• City of Steinbach: 2026 election
• City of Morden: 2026 election
• City of Dauphin: 2026 election
• City of Thompson: election notices and information

Note: If your municipality is not listed above, visit its official website for local candidate and voting information. Municipal elections in Victoria Beach, Winnipeg Beach and Dunnottar were held on July 24, 2026.

Your voice matters in shaping Manitoba’s municipal leadership!

Small businesses are the backbone of Manitoba’s communities. On October 28, make your voice heard and vote for municipal leaders who understand that strong local economies depend on small businesses that can afford to operate, invest and grow.