Saskatoon, October 20, 2026 – Representing more than 800 small business members in Saskatoon, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has written to the city’s mayor and City Council urging them to maintain the current commercial-to-residential property tax ratio and avoid shifting an even greater share of the municipal tax burden onto small firms as the city consults the public on its future property tax policy.
Saskatoon businesses already pay 71% more in property taxes than residential property owners on properties with the same assessed value. Under the city’s current tax structure, the commercial-to-residential property tax ratio is 1.71:1. While non-residential properties account for about one-fifth of the city’s assessment base, they contribute nearly one-third of municipal property tax revenue.
“Small businesses already carry a disproportionate share of Saskatoon’s property tax burden,” said Brianna Solberg, CFIB Director for the Prairies and Northern Canada. “Council should be looking for ways to strengthen the city’s business environment, not make it more expensive to operate, invest and create jobs. Maintaining the current tax ratio is an important step toward protecting Saskatoon’s competitive edge.”
The review comes at a challenging time for small businesses. Canada is experiencing what CFIB calls an entrepreneurial drought, with more businesses closing than opening. Meanwhile, 55% of small business owners say they would not recommend starting a business right now, reflecting the pressures of high costs and economic uncertainty.
Property taxes are particularly difficult for small businesses because they are profit-insensitive: owners must pay them regardless of whether sales are strong or business is slow. Higher property taxes can leave less money available to hire employees, invest in equipment, expand operations or withstand economic uncertainty.
In its letter to the mayor and council, CFIB has called on the City to:
CFIB recognizes that residential property owners are also facing affordability pressures and that public input is an important part of the city’s review. However, decisions must balance community priorities with sound economic evidence and a clear understanding of the consequences for local businesses and the broader economy.
“Protecting small businesses is about protecting Saskatoon’s economic future,” added Solberg. “When local businesses succeed, they create jobs, invest in neighbourhoods and contribute to the services and amenities residents rely on. Council should protect the conditions that make Saskatoon a competitive place to do business.”
CFIB encourages Saskatoon business owners to participate in the City’s property tax policy consultation and share how property taxes affect their operations.
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Brianna Solberg, CFIB
306-713-8071
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 (4,000 in Saskatchewan, including over 800 in Saskatoon). 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.