Election uncertainty: A record 41% of BC small businesses remain undecided.

Vancouver, September 4, 2024 – A new small business platform from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), titled Small business, big decisions: BC small business election platform, reveals that 41% of BC small business voters say they have not yet decided who to vote for— a significantly higher share compared to the last provincial election.

“This jump in undecided voters signals that small business owners feel their concerns are being overlooked,” said Jairo Yunis, Director of BC and Western Economic Policy. “With the province grappling with sluggish economic growth, declining investment, the rising cost of doing business, and large public deficits, the resulting uncertainty and financial strain are taking a serious toll on business confidence and decision-making.”

In this challenging economic environment, BC businesses are shouldering the second-highest provincial payroll costs in the country. It is no surprise that an overwhelming 87% of small business owners in the province identify reducing the cost of doing business as their top priority for party platforms.

“This fall, small business owners are looking for strong, actionable commitments to address their top concerns, including reducing the cost of doing business, easing regulatory burdens, and fostering more economic environment,” says Emily Boston, BC Senior Policy Analyst. “Sadly, 70% of small businesses do not believe their concerns and priorities will be adequately addressed in the upcoming provincial election.”

As political parties develop their platforms, it is essential that they prioritize the interests of small businesses, who are the backbone of our economy and communities. CFIB’s key policy recommendations to support BC small businesses include reducing business taxes, shifting the cost burden of paid sick days, rebating a portion of the carbon tax to small businesses, and returning a share of WorkSafeBC’s $2 billion surplus to employers.

For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:  

Dariya Baiguzhiyeva, CFIB  

647-464-2814 

public.affairs@cfib.ca   

About CFIB 
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 97,000 members 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.