Close the PEI property tax gap!

Same property value. Same community.
But SMEs pay $3,609 - $7,895 more in property tax than homeowners.
It’s unfair and nonsensical!

Where small businesses stand…

Tax bill icon

Businesses in Prince Edward Island pay 1.6 - 2.3x higher rates than residents.

58% icon

58% had to increase prices to manage rising property taxes.
59% icon

59% say property taxes are not set in a predictable way for small businesses.
77% icon

77% do not think the property tax provides good value for money.

Property tax on a $364,600 property

  Multiplier
X		 Residential
$		 Commercial
$
Alberton 1.63 5,688 9,297
Charlottetown 2.31 6,089 14,074
Cornwall 1.68 5,323 8,869
Stratford 1.94 5,433 10,391
Summerside 1.95 6,344 12,396

Minister of Housing, Land and Communities;
Minister of Economic Development, Innovation, and Trade;
PEI Mayors

CC: Minister of Finance, and the Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities.

PEI small businesses pay thousands more in property taxes than homeowners for properties of the same value, even though they create local jobs, keep storefronts active, and often use fewer municipal services.

This imbalance is costly, discourages investment, and undermines competitiveness.

Small businesses are not asking for special treatment, only fair treatment. The current property tax system asks them to shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden compared to homeowners.

We ask you to take immediate action to:

  • Reduce, and shortly eliminate the commercial–residential property tax gap
  • Commit to fair, reasonable, and predictable tax increases for my business.
CFIB logo

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 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.