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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

BC Small Business Confidence Weakens as NDP Piles on New Costs


New data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)shows weakening business confidence in British Columbia and rising cost pressures across the board.


“Business confidence in BC is weak, barely above neutral, and moving in the wrong direction,” said Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna–Mission and Critic for Jobs, Economic Development, Innovation and AI. “At the exact moment small businesses are struggling, this government continues to kick them while they’re down with higher taxes and more red tape.”


CFIB data shows 74% of small businesses in BC identify tax and regulatory costs as a major challenge, alongside rising pressures from insurance, wages, and energy.


“Tax and regulatory costs are a major burden on small businesses, and this government keeps making red tape and taxes worse,” said Dew. “Insurance is also one of the top pressures, reflecting the real public safety challenges businesses are dealing with every day.”


The report also points to weakening demand, declining business health, and cautious hiring intentions.


“Businesses are being squeezed from every direction, demand is softening, confidence is falling, and costs are rising across the board,” Dew added. “This isn’t a strong economy. It’s one where businesses are hesitant, cautious, and under pressure.”


Dew said the NDP’s expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax to professional services, along with a 7% increase on security services, is making the situation worse.


“These results show just how tone-deaf the PST expansion really is,” said Dew. “The government is increasing taxes on the very services businesses rely on to grow and to stay safe. It adds insult to injury for a small business sector already bearing the burden of a public safety crisis made worse by the NDP’s reckless drug experiments.”


“The NDP is committed to a path that will keep ramping up costs, including energy costs, for families and businesses,” Dew added. “That’s not a recipe for growth. It’s a recipe for fewer jobs, less investment, and a weaker economy.” 

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