Small businesses outline key priorities ahead of Nova Scotia municipal elections

Property tax, red tape, affordability, and crime top the list of issues small businesses hope to see addressed 

Halifax, October 3, 2024 – As municipal elections across Nova Scotia heat up, small businesses are putting forward their priorities to candidates for councillor and mayor across the province. 

“All orders of government, especially municipal, have a role to play in ensuring our province is a place that supports and promotes the entrepreneurial spirit of our communities,” said Duncan Robertson, Senior Policy Analyst at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). “Small businesses want to see their priorities met and included in candidates’ visions for the future.”  

Over the summer, CFIB surveyed their 4,000 members across Nova Scotia to gather their priorities and policies that they believe should be included in municipal candidates plans to improve the business environment of their municipalities. 

• Nova Scotia’s small businesses put forward the following policies to improve the environment for small businesses: 
• Establish a construction mitigation fund to support small businesses most impacted by public construction projects. 
• Reform property taxation to reduce the difference between residential and commercial properties and provide better value for money. 
• Eliminate fees for installing sidewalk patios  
• Establish a red tape feedback portal to identify and address municipal red tape. 
• Implement a crime rebate program for prevention and repairs. 

“With three in four small businesses across our province saying current municipal policies are impeding their ability to grow, these municipal elections provide an opportunity to reset and put the necessary focus on making our municipalities a better place to do business,” Robertson added.  

For media enquiries or interviews, please contact: 
Duncan Robertson, CFIB 
(902)-580-4538 
Duncan.Robertson@cfib.ca  

Methodology 
The data referenced in this news release was gathered through the Atlantic Municipal Issues online, controlled-access survey – Final Results, Active dates: June 20-July 11, 2024. Results based on responses from 238 CFIB members who are owners of Atlantic Canadian independent businesses from all sectors. For comparison purposes, a probability sample with the same number of respondents would have a margin of error of +/- 6.35%, 19 times out of 20. 

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, including 10,200 in Atlantic Canada. 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.