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.
The September 2025 edition of Your Voice captures the latest views of small business owners across Canada. With over 2,000 responses, the survey highlights the ongoing pressures, digital challenges, and concerns about labour disputes and trade policy. Small businesses continue to navigate elevated costs and regulatory change with a focus on practical solutions that help them stay resilient and grow.
Business Conditions
Rising costs remain the biggest concern. Taxes and operating expenses top the list, followed by economic uncertainty, energy, and labour costs.
Digital Practices
Most small businesses (9 in 10) use at least one digital channel—usually a website or Facebook—but only one in three sell online. Time, cost, and technical hurdles continue to limit deeper digital adoption.
Strikes at Federally Regulated Workplaces
Owners want quicker ways to resolve major strikes, strongly supporting back-to-work laws, arbitration, and more competition in key sectors.
Canada-China Trade Dispute
While most firms report no direct impact, agriculture and hospitality are feeling the strain. Over half of businesses support lifting tariffs on Chinese EVs to protect Canadian exports.
Bill C-2: Cash Transaction Limits
About one in three businesses expect new cash limits to affect them—especially in construction, hospitality, and retail—due to higher fees and new compliance costs.
Marvin Cruz
Director of Research
Explore more September 2025 insights and our extensive survey collection below.