CFIBideas

Dan Kelly, President and CEO of @CFIBNews, released a statement on the passing of CFIB’s founder, John Bulloch: “On behalf of the family, CFIB is very sad to share that our founder, John Bulloch, passed away on April 22, 2026, at age 92..." cfib-fcei.ca/en/site/rememb…

While it is welcome news that the current year’s deficit is projected to be smaller than in the fall budget, it is worrisome there is no plan to return to a balanced budget. Government is projecting deficits over $50 billion for as far as the eye can see and small firms have learned the hard way that today’s deficits become tomorrow’s taxes.

The spring update does have one big win for small business – a significant reduction in Canada Pension Plan (CPP) premiums paid by employers and employees. Small firms are payroll intensive, and a cut in the premium rate from 9.9% to 9.5% will put $3 billion back into the pockets of employees and payroll budgets of employers. This is good news and helps offset the unwelcome projected increase in Employment Insurance (EI) rates. The other positive measures in today’s update include major changes to Canada’s apprenticeship supports focused on the trades. As long as we can keep the paperwork and red tape light, the new Apprenticeship Grant and $10,000 wage incentive for employers should be a big boost for small firms involved in Canada’s trades. CFIB is very pleased the government listened to its request to make the new Employee Ownership Trust tax exemption permanent. Employee ownership is a great way to provide more options for entrepreneurs when they are looking to sell. Making this measure permanent will help ensure this measure is considered by more small business owners.

Giant funds, like the proposed Canada Strong Fund, have been tried in past budgets, without moving the economic growth needle. What worries me is that Ottawa is trying to stimulate things for a few by using tax dollars and exemptions from normal rules, while ignoring the tougher job of encouraging entrepreneurship and facilitating growth in smaller businesses. CFIB will continue its call for a significant reduction in the small business corporate tax rate.

The federal spring economic update includes some welcome measures, but it is not enough to halt the alarming loss of small businesses across Canada. The update continues the federal government’s focus on investments in major projects and large companies, with small and medium-sized firms stuck in the same old mix of red tape and high taxes. I don’t see much that will help Canada avoid a seventh quarter in a row of losses in the net number of small businesses. We need action to stop Canada’s entrepreneurial drought.

Small business owners across Canada continue to face significant crime and safety challenges. Half say crime has increased in their area, and StatsCan data shows shoplifting keeps rising. 📈 Owners should not be spending more energy managing crime than running their business. 📊 Read the full release: hubs.li/Q04b0L1X0

Thank you MP @BradleyVis for the discussion on the best policies that would help entrepreneurship in Canada. Merci au député Vis pour la conversation, en compagnie de @JasminGuenette et @ChristinaCFIB

Fantastic news for small businesses in Ontario. A big thank you to Premier @fordnation and Finance Minister @PBethlenfalvy for listening to CFIB’s 40,000 Ontario members. CFIB commends Ontario government for lowering Small Business Tax Rate cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/cfib-…

Don't face the challenges of running a #smallbiz alone! #CFIB is here to help with your HR & other #business needs. Our experienced team is ready to give you personalized support.  📲 Don't hesitate to reach out. Contact us today!  #CFIB_BusinessSupport #SmallBusinessSupport

📣 With federal, provincial, and territorial ministers set to meet next week for the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT), the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (#CFIB) is calling on governments to build on recent progress and ensure reforms translate into real improvements for #smallbusinesses trying to operate across provincial and territorial borders. 🔗 Read More: hubs.li/Q047W6qr0

📊 Small business owners across Canada are calling on governments to move quickly to strengthen the country’s domestic energy supply, according to new preliminary data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (#CFIB). 🔗 Read More: hubs.li/Q046HtD_0

Our athletes delivered unforgettable moments at the Winter Olympics, but their journey started long before the world was watching! Behind every Canadian Olympian are Proudly Canadian small businesses providing the training spaces, coaching, support, and encouragement for athletes to grow. ⛸️🏔️ As the Games wrap up, we’re celebrating the athletes who inspired a nation and the small business community that supported them along the way. 🍁 #ProudlyCanadian #TeamCanada #WinterOlympics

The Budget 2026 tax increases announced today make BC a less competitive place to do business. 📣 We are calling on all elected officials to fix the province’s entrepreneurial drought. 👇 #bcpoli

✨ Happy Lunar New Year 2026! ✨ Wishing everyone a prosperous and joyful year ahead.

Interested in public policy and advocacy? CFIB’s Public Policy Internship is now OPEN for applications! If you’re passionate about advocacy, small business issues and shaping real policy change, this is your chance to work alongside CFIB’s experts and contribute to meaningful national and provincial files. ✔️ Build skills ✔️ Gain experience ✔️ Make an impact Learn more and get ready to apply: hubs.li/Q043mNk30 #CFIB #PublicPolicy #Internship #Careers #Advocacy #SmallBusiness

On budget day in Toronto @CFIB commends City Council for increasing its small business property subclass tax savings. As a result of our advocacy the tax savings threshold increased from 15% to 20%, a direct measure needed during these challenging & uncertain economic times. The 20% will be automatically matched by the province in Business Education Tax reductions. This is a solid step on the path to reaching the full 35% savings allowed by the Ontario government under its optional small business property tax subclass. See our news release here: cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/cfib-… #topoli #onpoli #smallbusiness

🌾 As we mark the 10th anniversary of Canada’s Agriculture Day, we’re celebrating the Agri businesses that keep our food system safe, reliable, and resilient. CFIB continues to advocate for reduced regulatory and financial pressures and for strong, efficient supply chains that help farmers and food producers succeed. Stay connected with the issues shaping the sector: hubs.li/Q042nrcq0 #CdnAgDay #Agriculture #AgriBusiness

Happy to meet with the Associate Minister of Small Business @ninatangri to discuss our Ontario members’ top priority of lowering Ontario’s Small Business Tax Rate from 3.2%-2% and raising its threshold from $500,000-$700,000. Lowering the SBTR alone would benefit 346,930 small businesses! Our @CFIBNews colleagues in Ottawa have been urging the federal government to lower the federal SBTR and raise its threshold, too. Both levels of government should support struggling small businesses with tax changes now! #ONsmallbiz #ONpoli

As part of our 17th annual Red Tape Awareness Week™, @CFIB today awarded Hon. @Andrea_Khanjin (Minister of Red Tape Reduction) with a “One to Watch” Golden Scissors Award for REGi (Regulatory Intelligence). Launched last year, REGi was created by the Ontario government to pinpoint outdated, duplicative, complex and overly prescriptive rules across all provincial laws, regulations, policies, and forms. REGi is the first AI-powered tool in North America to leverage a Large Language Model for regulatory compliance identification. See our news release here: cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/ontar… CFIB congratulates the Ontario government for leading the nation in red tape reduction innovation! #redtape #ONsmallbiz #onpoli

As part of our 17th annual Red Tape Awareness Week™, @CFIB today awarded Hon. @VictorFedeli (Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade) with a “One to Watch” Golden Scissors Award for Ontario’s role in the Committee on Internal Trade’s Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement on the Sale of Goods signed on November 19, 2025. See our news release here: cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/ontar… CFIB commends the Ontario government for their leadership on removing internal trade barriers at a time when new and expanded markets are so desperately needed. #internaltrade #ONsmallbiz #onpoli