Throne Speech an opportunity to focus on entrepreneurs

92% of business owners not confident AB government committed to improving business climate 

Calgary, March 8th, 2018 – The Alberta Director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), Amber Ruddy, will be available to comment on today’s Throne Speech and what it means for the province’s small and medium-sized businesses.

“Small business owners are the job creators and innovators in our economy, yet entrepreneurs don’t feel they are high on this government’s priority list. This Throne Speech is an opportunity for the government to outline their plan to restore business confidence,” says Ruddy. 

When Alberta’s entrepreneurs were asked, “How confident are you that the provincial government is committed to improving the business climate for small business in Alberta?”

• 64 per cent are “not confident at all”
• 28 per cent are “not very confident”
•   6 per cent are “somewhat confident”
•   1 per cent are “very confident” 
•   1 per cent “don’t know”

“Freezing minimum wage levels, making the carbon tax revenue neutral, and refraining from new sales taxes and healthcare premiums are ways for this government to show it is focused on the needs of entrepreneurs,” said Ruddy.

For more information about CFIB’s pre-budget recommendations, please visit www.cfib.ca/ab.

Survey results are based on 1,040 responses, collected from CFIB members in Alberta to a controlled-access web survey. Data reflects responses received between February 1st and February 22nd 2018.

To arrange an interview with Amber Ruddy, please contact 1-866-444-9290 or msalb@cfib.ca.

CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses with 109,000 members across every sector and region, including 10,000 in Alberta.