Running a small business in Newfoundland and Labrador is getting tougher every year. Our members tell us they’re being hit from all sides: disruptive construction projects, endless red tape, rising crime, and heavy property taxes. These aren’t just inconveniences, they make it harder to stay competitive and keep your business running.
Construction disruptions are a big headache. Across Canada, 72% of small businesses have been affected by major construction over the past five years, often with little or no warning. When streets are blocked or foot traffic disappears, revenue drops fast, and most businesses get no support. That’s why CFIB is pushing for changes that would let municipalities compensate affected businesses and put proper construction mitigation plans in place across the province.
Red tape is another major drain. In 2024, businesses spent an average of 735 hours just on regulatory compliance, with 256 of those hours wasted on unnecessary paperwork. It’s a huge cost: $51.5 billion nationwide, and it hits small businesses the hardest. CFIB is fighting for simpler permitting, less red tape, and permanent feedback mechanisms so rules don’t hold entrepreneurs back.
And let’s not forget property taxes. Commercial rates in many Newfoundland and Labrador municipalities are more than double residential rates, and six in ten Atlantic business owners say taxes are their top concern. As councils prepare their 2026 budgets, CFIB is urging them to close the commercial–residential tax gap, keep spending in check, and avoid unnecessary tax hikes.
Small businesses are crucial in our communities, and they deserve policies that help them grow, not obstacles that make survival harder. CFIB is fighting for fair taxation, safer streets, less red tape, and real support when construction hits.
If you want a stronger voice standing up for your business, now’s the time to join us. Become a CFIB member today and help push for the changes small businesses need to thrive.
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