Tweet

Dan Kelly

19 Apr, 8 tweets, 2 min read

Here are a few comments from CFIB based on media reports of what is in the federal budget.
1. It appears COVID support for small business will be a major theme. This would be excellent news.
2. Extending the main economic support programs (CEWS/CERS) to the fall makes sense.

3. A major hiring incentive is rumoured. This was a key CFIB recommendation for the recovery in order to help small firms afford to bring back their staff. This needs to apply broadly, not just to those using the wage subsidy.

4. We are encouraged to hear of further credit card fee reductions. This could mean the govt will deliver on its 2019 election promise to kill processing fees on GST/HST or a cut in fees for e-commerce/telephone. Both would be good news.

5. CFIB supports applying existing tax rates on foreign digital services & online purchases to level the playing field. We will oppose luxury taxes on some boats/cars on behalf of those who depend on such sales.

6. CFIB is very worried that there are no signs the govt will fix access problems to CEBA, CERS, CEWS, HASCAP for the many thousands who have received zero support. This includes new (2020) businesses and micro-sized firms.

7. It does not appear there are plans to help reduce the $170K in new COVID debt the average small firms has inherited. Expanding CEBA to $80K with 50% forgivable or a 25% forgivable portion of HASCAP would be a positive surprise.

8. CFIB is hoping govt keeps the lid on additional, non-COVID spending. Now is not the time for higher taxes (carbon, CPP, liquor) or new costly programs that will result in new taxes for SMEs.

As always, there will be a few surprises after 4 pm. CFIB will be monitoring closely and will share what we can asap.

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More from @CFIB

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

19 Apr

Some good news in #Budget2021 for small business: extension of the rent/wage subsidy to the fall, a major new hiring incentive and a promise of lower credit card processing fees.

Here is CFIB's full release: cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/news-…

Sadly, the federal budget does absolutely nothing to fix the many gaps in access to CEWS, CERS or CEBA. New firms and thousands of others remain entirely left out. Fixing this is CFIB's top priority.

Read 8 tweets

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

16 Mar

As further evidence of the impact of the pandemic on small business, I can report that CFIB now represents 95,000 members (down from 110,000 pre-pandemic). This is the largest drop in our 50 year history.

As we seek to renew our members, a huge number are no longer there. Others are not in the position to pay a membership fee.

One of the decisions of which I am most proud was our call to continue to provide free service to any CFIB member who can no longer afford to pay a membership fee. We also have offered free service to all independently owned businesses who need our help.

Read 5 tweets

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

16 Mar

I'll leave it to others to determine whether we are in/near a third wave of COVID-19. Regardless, we cannot return to shutting down the economy to address the concern. Lockdowns were meant to buy a bit of time to ramp up health care capacity, not a semi-permanent policy.

Gyms & indoor restaurant dining in Toronto (for example) have been locked down for nearly 300 days and, still, remain entirely closed. Has this been an effective COVID mitigation effort?

We have vaccinated many of the most vulnerable and are finally making progress in vaccinating older Canadians. This is expected to help address concerns with health care capacity and fatalities - the entire goal of the lockdown in the first place.

Read 6 tweets

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

11 Dec 20

As small businesses across Ontario brace for a potential expansion of the province's bizarre "Grey Zone" retail rules (which close small businesses and push customers to line-ups at busy big box stores), here are my reflections:

1. No other province or public health official in Canada has adopted Ontario's counter-intuitive practice. Most provinces have adopted capacity restrictions for all, SK focuses on reducing crowds at big-box stores, MB closes both small & large to non-essential retail.

2. The province has provided no data to support its small business retail closure policy. When asked, most officials admit it is intended to send consumers a message to stay home, not because shopping is riskier than other business/personal activities.

Read 11 tweets

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

9 Dec 20

@NEWSTALK1010

Please listen to this @NEWSTALK1010 interview with York Region Medical Officer of Health Dr. Karim Kurji. He expects that the province will put York into lockdown this weekend, but doesn't recommend it. iheartradio.ca/newstalk-1010/…

Dr. Kurji says he must consider "the downside of mental health issues, social isolation and economic ruining for small businesses in particular".

Dr. Kurji goes on to say that "going into lockdown won't necessarily help anyone", they will have "minimal effect" and that Toronto/Peel lockdowns haven't had the expected results.

Read 5 tweets

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

8 Dec 20

It is hard to imagine a more anti-small business policy than Ontario's grey zone retail rule (shutting small businesses down while leaving big box stores open). CFIB is hearing reports the govt will expand this measure to other parts of Ontario this weekend.

We need a different approach to protect the public. One that doesn't entirely close quiet small retailers and send their customers to giant lines in/out of Costco and Walmart.

88% of Ontarians agree that closing small retailers to in-store shopping while allowing the same goods to be sold in-store at big box stores is unfair.

Read 11 tweets

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