CFIB to MPPs: Listen to small businesses about Bill 148’s impact during Constituency Week

Toronto, November 6, 2017 – As MPPs prepare to spend Constituency Week in their ridings, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling on all MPPs to meet with local business owners to hear their thoughts on Bill 148, which includes the government’s $15 minimum wage plan and other sweeping labor reforms. CFIB sent a letter to all MPPs with this request last Friday.

“It’s become abundantly clear during two rounds of public hearings that many MPPs are not willing to take the economic impact concerns of small businesses seriously,” said Plamen Petkov, CFIB vice president, Ontario. “It is our hope that MPPs will keep an open mind and use time in their ridings this week to speak to the people who create the most jobs and economic growth: small- and medium-sized business owners.”

CFIB presented to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs at Queen’s Park last week, reiterating the need for government to stop Bill 148 and conduct a thorough economic impact analysis before taking any further steps.

“With Bill 148 nearing the end of the legislative process, it’s especially critical for MPPs to hear and consider all sides of the story,” said Julie Kwiecinski, CFIB director of provincial affairs, Ontario. “Talking directly to small business owners both old and new and in different sectors is the best way to get a reality check on Bill 148.”

At the committee hearing, CFIB also presented the final results of its Ontario Minimum Wage member survey that received over 3,800 responses on expected economic impacts of the government’s $15 minimum wage plan and other questions. The survey found that Bill 148’s minimum wage plan would force business owners to increases prices (66.1 per cent), reduce the hiring of new employees (64.5 per cent), and reduce the hours of existing employees (52.9 per cent), among other results.

To arrange an interview with Plamen Petkov or Julie Kwiecinski, please contact Andy Radia at 647-464-2814 or public.affairs@cfib.ca.

CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses with 109,000 members across every sector and region, including 42,000 in Ontario.