Toronto, February 13, 2020 – Canada’s small businesses rely heavily on our rail networks to send and receive products, which keeps their doors open to serve customers and pay their employees. CFIB has begun hearing from small business owners across the country about the impacts this service interruption will soon have on their businesses. A prolonged disruption could lead to a loss of key contracts or customers, putting the future of their firm and the livelihood of their employees at risk.
Some of the most affected industries include agriculture, mining and forestry, and natural resources, but manufacturing, retail, transportation and wholesale will increasingly feel the effect of these actions.
Small businesses often have fewer financial resources to weather a disruption. If the rail disruptions continue, CFIB urges CRA to be flexible with the tax obligations of small businesses that are severely affected.
CFIB calls on the federal and provincial governments to work together and with law enforcement agencies to ensure rail service is immediately resumed. Canada’s reputation as a dependable place to do business is at stake if a speedy resolution is not reached.
—Dan Kelly, CFIB president
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Milena Stanoeva, 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 110,000 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.