Alberta small businesses urge municipal candidates to prioritize them in upcoming elections

New survey finds most Alberta entrepreneurs feel ignored, overtaxed, and unsafe in their communities.

Calgary, October 1, 2025 – Today, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released The Small Business Vote: Priorities for Alberta’s Municipal Election, a platform outlining what entrepreneurs need from their local governments to survive and thrive. 

“Too many Alberta small businesses have felt invisible to their municipal councils over the past four years” said Kayode Southwood, CFIB’s Senior Policy Analyst for Alberta. “Instead of supporting local job creators, municipalities have piled on high property taxes, disruptive construction, and layers of red tape making it harder to survive in an already uncertain economy.” 

Nearly three-quarters (71%) of Alberta small business owners say their municipal leaders have not paid enough attention to small business issues, while a majority (54%) feel they are treated unfairly by their municipal government. Additionally, about three in five Alberta businesses (59%) do not believe they receive a fair value in services compared to residents given the amount of property taxes they pay. 

To reverse this trend, CFIB’s election platform lays out four priorities for candidates: 

1. Keep costs fair and predictable: Close the property tax gap, rein in spending, and deliver stronger value for tax dollars. 
2. Minimize construction disruptions: Establish fair compensation programs for impacted businesses and implement policies that encourage on-time project competition. 
3. Support safe and thriving communities: Tackle crime and social disorder through better prevention, response, and collaboration. 
4. Cut red tape and improve service delivery: Make municipal processes simpler, faster, and more predictable. 

“Municipal governments can’t control global trade wars or inflation, but they can choose to respect the time, money, and hard work of their small business community,” said Keyli Loeppky, CFIB’s Director, Alberta & Interprovincial Affairs. “This election is a chance for local leaders to prove they value small businesses by lowering property taxes, cutting red tape, tackling crime and safety concerns, and better managing disruptive construction projects.” 

With Alberta’s municipal elections taking place on October 20, 2025, small business owners will be watching closely to see which candidates step up to support them. By committing to small business priorities, local leaders can help entrepreneurs keep creating jobs, attracting investment, and building vibrant communities. 

For media enquiries or interviews, please contact: 
Keyli Loeppky 
Director, Alberta & Interprovincial Affairs 
587-580-9140 
keyli.loeppky@cfib.ca