Vancouver, June 14, 2024 – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is concerned about the provincial government’s new regulations which mandate a minimum wage of $20.88/hour and a per-kilometer allowance for app-based ride-hailing and delivery workers. While well intentioned, these changes will significantly impact small businesses that depend on gig economy platforms.
The gig economy relies on the flexibility that benefits both businesses and workers. This flexibility allows small businesses to access affordable and flexible services without the overhead costs of permanent employees, while workers can choose when and how much they work.
However, these new regulations will disrupt this balance, as platforms like Uber, DoorDash, and SkipTheDishes may pass the increased costs onto small businesses. This will raise operational expenses for many BC small businesses, forcing many to increase prices or alter their service models to manage the financial strain, impacting the customer experience. Additionally, the higher costs could lead some platforms to reduce their presence in the province, resulting in less work for gig workers and further impacting the small businesses that rely on them.
CFIB urges the provincial government to consider the unintended consequences these regulatory changes will have on small businesses and the province’s economy. A balanced approach is essential to support gig workers without undermining the flexibility and viability of small businesses, which are crucial to BC’s economic health.
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Jairo Yunis
Director, British Columbia and Western Economic Policy
Jairo.yunis@cfib.ca
(403) 399-5321
About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 97,000 members (9,700 in BC) across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.