New platform urges local candidates to cut red tape, reduce costs, and support small businesses
Vancouver, September 15, 2026 – As municipal leaders gather in Vancouver for UBCM 2026, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is launching its B.C. Small Business Vote 2026, a practical agenda for local candidates and councils to reduce avoidable costs, cut red tape, and make their communities more small business-friendly.
The platform is being released alongside CFIB's recent national Municipal Report Card, which grades municipalities on how small business-friendly their policies are. Together, the two resources provide local governments and election candidates with benchmarks, best practices, and practical policy solutions to better support entrepreneurs.
“Municipal governments make decisions every day that directly affect whether small businesses can operate, grow and invest in their communities,” said Kalith Nanayakkara, CFIB’s Senior Policy Analyst for B.C. “Taxes, permitting, parking, procurement and the overall cost of doing business all have a direct impact on a small business owner’s bottom line. Our municipal platform offers practical solutions that can help create stronger conditions for entrepreneurs across British Columbia.”
The platform outlines five key priorities for municipal governments: keeping local taxes affordable, reducing red tape, supporting safe and vibrant commercial districts, minimizing disruption from public construction projects, and improving access to municipal procurement opportunities.
Small businesses continue to face significant challenges, including rising costs, labour shortages and economic uncertainty. With local elections approaching across British Columbia, CFIB is encouraging candidates and councils to focus on the municipal policies that directly influence the cost and ease of doing business.
“The Municipal Report Card highlights what municipalities are doing well and where there is room for improvement,” added Nanayakkara. “We hope candidates and elected officials will use the report and our platform as resources when developing policies that support local entrepreneurs and keep communities vibrant and competitive.”
CFIB has also worked directly with municipalities such as the City of Mission, where local leaders have worked hard to support entrepreneurs and strengthen the conditions for local businesses to succeed. Throughout UBCM and beyond, CFIB will continue engaging with mayors, councillors and local government officials to discuss the challenges facing small businesses and identify practical solutions that help local entrepreneurs succeed.
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Kalith Nanayakkara, CFIB
Kalith.Nanayakkara@cfib.ca
About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 103,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.