With the provincial election coming up in a few weeks, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is asking the party leaders about their commitments on key small business issues.

 

The organization sent the leaders surveys about their takes on four major areas: tax relief, sustainable spending, reducing red tape, and balancing labour laws and enhancing training programs.

 

When asked about recommendations pertaining to small businesses in the north, the CFIB’s Director of provincial affairs, Jonathan Alward explains if you look almost all the policies are relevant to business regardless of whether or not you’re in downtown Winnipeg or in Thompson.  He says there are things like the education property taxes for example that impact every business across the province.  He adds we know that spending for people is going up on education and all the property taxes that go with it and these policies set at the provincial level are then having the same or very similar impacts on businesses across the province regardless of what size.

 

He adds that many CFIB members in northern Manitoba responded in an earlier survey, saying the lack of skills training and staff retention are major issues for their businesses.

 

The result of the leaders’ survey is expected to be published on the CFIB’s website about a week before the election.