Small firms to pay almost half of the federal carbon tax; get 7 per cent back | CFIB

New survey data reveals 80% of small firms will be able pass on less than one quarter of new costs

Winnipeg, February 12, 2019 – The majority of small businesses in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick oppose the federal carbon backstop plan, which is set to come into effect this April in the four provinces, says the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The plan unfairly burdens small businesses, which will contribute almost 50 per cent of carbon tax revenues along with municipalities, universities, school boards and hospitals, but will receive just 7 per cent back in the form of rebates and grants. 

“With consumers receiving 90 per cent of the ‘Climate Action Incentive’ payments and many large emitters receiving carbon tax exemptions, small businesses are left holding the bag,” said CFIB president Dan Kelly.  

“The government’s technical documents state that small businesses are expected to simply pass their added costs down to consumers, but 80 per cent of small firms in the four provinces report they will be able to pass on less than one quarter of the new costs,” Kelly added. “In fact, over half of small firms said they will have to eat the entire new cost, on top of the seven years of CPP premium increases already underway. These costs will hamstring their ability to compete, and paradoxically, invest in emissions-reducing solutions.”

In its new survey of small businesses in the four provinces where the federal backstop will apply, CFIB found that an overwhelming majority (87 per cent) oppose the government’s carbon tax plan (93% in Manitoba). Additionally:

• 84 per cent of small businesses are already taking action to reduce their carbon footprint.
• 79 per cent of Manitoba small business owners say that the added cost of the carbon tax will make it harder for them to further invest in reducing their emissions (71% nationally).
• 87 per cent in Manitoba believe the current rebate plan, where 90 per cent of rebates will be allocated to households, is unfair (83% nationally).
• 86 per cent in Manitoba would like to get back the same share in grants and rebates as they pay in carbon taxes (84% nationally).
• 77 per cent of Manitoba small business owners say a federally imposed carbon tax will make their business less competitive.

“Small business owners care about the environment and have already been taking steps to reduce their emissions. However, the federal carbon tax plan punishes them with new costs instead of providing them the tools they need to further reduce their carbon footprint,” said Jonathan Alward, CFIB’s Director of Provincial Affairs for Manitoba. “We are pleased the Government of Manitoba decided in October not to proceed with a costly carbon tax and we are urging the federal government to do the same. This plan is unfair and unaffordable, and the federal government needs to find better ways to help reduce emissions without negatively affecting Manitoba’s small businesses.”

To arrange an interview with Jonathan Alward, Director of Provincial Affairs for Manitoba, please call 1 888-234-2232, 204-982-0817 or email msman@cfib.ca. You can also follow CFIB Manitoba on Twitter @cfibMB.

About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 110,000 members (4,800 in Manitoba) 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.