Every other month, CFIB members lend their opinions to 'Your Voice,' a survey exploring a variety of current topics. The latest takeaways are showcased in a series of informative charts that summarize these findings.

Your Voice Highlights

October 2024

The CFIB’s October Your Voice survey dives into the pressing priorities of Canadian businesses, spotlighting their top policy concerns and needs for government support. Here are the key findings from this month’s responses:

Low Confidence in Government Support 

Canadian business owners are feeling the strain, with nearly two-thirds expressing a lack of confidence that their provincial or territorial government is truly supportive of their interests. Alberta leads in relative confidence levels, while Quebec sees the lowest figures, suggesting that support for small business varies widely across provinces.

Tax Cuts on the Agenda 

Tax relief is high on the priority list, with a strong call to reduce the small business corporate income tax, personal income tax, carbon tax, and gasoline/fuel taxes. Interestingly, some provinces—particularly Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan —place a higher emphasis on carbon taxes, indicating region-specific tax concerns.

Federal Election Priorities 

As federal election discussions emerge, business owners are clear on what they want to see prioritized: controlling government spending, reducing the small business tax rate, and eliminating the carbon tax. Western provinces, in particular, are keen on carbon tax reductions, reflecting a regional push for policies to lower operational costs.

Mixed Views on Tariffs 

The introduction of a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from China garners mixed support, with about half of the business community in favor. Notably, the construction sector leads in support for this measure, signaling a sector-specific push.

In summary, the October survey presents a focused view of the policy areas where business owners seek immediate action, guiding policymakers on the support and reforms that small businesses need most.

Dive Deeper into the Numbers

Explore the interactive dashboard below to delve into the data from our September 2024 Your Voice survey.  You can filter the data by province, sector, business size, and age for SMEs across the nation.

Marvin Cruz

Director of Research

Explore more September 2024 insights and our extensive survey collection below.