A deficit of trust: Most small businesses don't believe politicians will act to fix Ontario's finances

TORONTO, March 20, 2012 /CNW/ - Angry. Nothing will change. Stop playing politics. Those are just some of the ways small business owners describe their lack of confidence in their politicians to balance Ontario's budget, according to a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

Based on 3,300 responses, the survey asked business owners about the current state of Ontario's finances and the (Drummond) report by the Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services on how to eliminate the province's $16 billion deficit. While 78 per cent of respondents want the government to act quickly (within 12 months) on the Commission's findings to balance the budget by 2017/18, most have no faith in the current minority parliament to meet that target.

"Despite putting all parties on probation by electing a minority parliament in the recent election, Ontarians are seeing very little evidence of politicians, regardless of political stripe, putting the public good ahead of their own," said CFIB's Ontario vice-president Satinder Chera.

While governments are just now catching up to the implications of the economic slowdown, many Ontarians have already felt and dealt with them in their own place of business, namely, cutting their own salaries, freezing wages and reducing overhead expenses. They expect their politicians to acknowledge these sacrifices, in part, by making the same sorts of difficult decisions.

With the Ontario budget one week away, CFIB has recommended measures aimed at building all-party support for making the deficit public enemy number one and winning back the public's trust. "For example, legislating spending limits that balance spending with revenues would demonstrate the commitment of all parties to balance the budget come hell or high water," concluded Chera.

Obtain a copy of the survey results and CFIB's budget recommendations at www.cfib.ca/on

As Canada's largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 109,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy.

To arrange an interview with Satinder Chera, please contact Meghan Carrington at 416 222-8022 or by email at [email protected]