Small business priorities for the 2026 budget

The CFIB Fiscal Policy Survey is a special survey designed to capture small business perspectives on government spending, taxation, and fiscal policy. It explores the impact of current policies on business competitiveness and operations, identifies key challenges and opportunities for improvement, and helps inform CFIB's advocacy priorities.

Key survey findings:

• Most small businesses are focused on stability rather than expansion. More than half (56%) intend to maintain their current course, including 31% who are doing so due to cost pressures and economic uncertainty.
• Business owners see tax and regulatory relief as the most effective ways to improve competitiveness. Seven in ten (71%) believe reducing the tax burden would help businesses compete more effectively in Canada and abroad, while 49% cite reducing regulatory burden.
• Reducing the small business tax rate is the most popular tax measure. Nearly two-thirds (62%) say lowering the small business tax rate from 9% to 6% would provide the greatest benefit.
• Tax relief would support business reinvestment and financial resilience. If overall taxes and fees were reduced, 58% of business owners would increase employee compensation, 48% would pay down debt, and 47% would expand their operations.