TORONTO, Aug. 6, 2015 /CNW/ - As party leaders prepare for the first debate of the federal election campaign, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is launching its small business election platform, highlighting the top election priorities for Canada's entrepreneurs.
"Every election we see party leaders and candidates trying to position themselves as the 'champions of Main Street,' in their bids to appeal to voters. With the current unsteadiness in the Canadian and world economies, it is more important than ever to support small and medium-sized firms – the source of 60 per cent of Canadian jobs," said CFIB president Dan Kelly. "Putting out this platform builds on CFIB's pre-election lobbying meetings with all major parties and will help to ensure candidates are fully aware of the independent business community's priorities."
CFIB's small business platform includes six key categories: pensions/retirement, taxes, red tape reduction, labour shortages, the Canada Revenue Agency and government spending.
Small business owners are looking to all parties to reject mandatory CPP/QPP hikes, enhance the lifetime capital gains exemption and control public sector spending. The platform outlines the goal of a reduction in the small business tax rate from 11 to nine per cent.
Entrepreneurs are also calling on all parties to address Canada's serious labour shortages by replacing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program with an Introduction to Canada Visa, and enhancing training programs to address the needs of small business owners.
"Small businesses are the driving force behind Canada's economy. We look forward to hearing the various parties' commitments affecting small business and have committed to sharing them with the nation's 2.5 million entrepreneurs, added Kelly. "As a strictly non-partisan organization, I'm particularly pleased to report that most of the parties have committed to lowering the small business corporate tax rate to nine per cent in the years ahead," Kelly added.
In addition to a written survey of their election commitments for small business, CFIB has asked all party leaders to record a video or agree to a public Q & A with Dan Kelly. This information would be shared with CFIB members and the public.
Read CFIB's small business platform and follow @cfib on Twitter for the latest election announcements that affect small business.
CFIB is Canada's largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses with 109,000 members across every sector and region.
SOURCE Canadian Federation of Independent Business
To arrange an interview with Dan Kelly, please contact Al Maggi at 416-222-8022, or [email protected]
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