MEDIA ADVISORY - CFIB meets with WSIB to stop hike in "payroll tax" on
business

TORONTO, Oct 7 /CNW/ - Senior representatives of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) will be meeting today with the President of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) on their recent decision to increase employer premiums for 2011 and 2012.

"We have one message for the WSIB - stop this irresponsible tax grab," said CFIB President Catherine Swift. "The average "two per cent" increase doesn't tell the whole story, in fact, many small businesses will be forced to pay much, much more at a time when they can least afford it".

Employers who can expect significant increases in their premiums in 2011, with no guarantee they won't see similar increases the following year, include:

• Small, independent pharmacies - 11.5% increase
• Small, independent retailers (clothing): 15.9% increase 
• Small, independent poultry farms: 19.5% increase
• Small, independent school bus companies: 7.4%
• Small, independent trucking companies: 11.1% increase 
• Small, independent grocery and convenience stores: 16.6% increase  

"Small businesses should not be forced to pay for the WSIB's mismanagement of the system," added CFIB's Ontario vice president Satinder Chera. "With an unfunded liability in excess of $12 billion and counting, it's time someone stepped in and put an end to this fiscal quagmire, before the WSIB is allowed to stick it to small businesses again".

For more information, please visit www.cfib.ca/on 

As Canada's largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs^TM. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 107,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy.

For further information:

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