– The Canadian Chamber of Commerce helps shape public policy and decision-making to the benefit of businesses, communities and families across Canada with a network of over 450 chambers of commerce and boards of trade, representing 200,000 businesses.
CANADA – Although the formal consultations on the proposed tax changes came to an end last night, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) will continue to provide a voice for concerned small business owners and entrepreneurs.
“The government has portrayed these radical changes as ‘fair’ but in fact, there is nothing fair about penalizing countless small businesses that pay their taxes and contribute tirelessly to their communities,” says Perrin Beatty, the Chamber’s President and CEO.
“If the government goes ahead with these sweeping measures, many business owners will no longer be able to access capital they have put away to stay afloat in an economic slowdown or keep a generations-old business in the family. The proposals will be crippling for hundreds of thousands of businesses and their employees.”
Since this summer, the Canadian Chamber has been calling on Finance Minister Bill Morneau to consider how these measures will hinder innovation and entrepreneurship across Canada. It asked the government to extend the rushed 75-day consultation period in favour of meaningful engagements with the business community.
Chambers of commerce across the country are uniting against these attacks. A campaign and website under the theme #ProtectGrowth were created to voice businesses’ concerns and provide the government with a clear picture of the small businesses it is targeting with these changes. In addition, the Canadian Chamber has participated in the formal consultations by providing a detailed submission.
“Canada’s business community will not give up,” says Mr. Beatty. Nor will we be silent because formal consultations have ended. We will continue to take our case to Canadians until the government listens.”
