The three area Chambers of Commerce feel the recently announced federal budget doesn’t do enough for business owners.
A statement jointly released by the Belleville, Quinte West and Prince Edward County chambers says the budget doesn’t address the issues undermining the ability of business owners to create more jobs and economic prosperity.
Lesley Lavender of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce said concrete measures are needed to address the tax and regulatory burden on businesses.
Suzanne Andrews, General Manager at the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce says the budget wasn’t all bad news. She says they are encouraged by the steps taken with regard to broadband, skills, and tourism, but challenges relating to access to talent, regulation, and the cost of doing business remain major sources of concern for their membership.
The Bay of Quinte chambers are part of a network of over 450 chambers of commerce and boards of trades representing over 200,000 businesses of all sizes in all sectors of the economy across the country. On behalf of this network, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce had outlined several public policy priorities for the government in advance of the 2019 Budget.
The Budget did deliver on some of the Canadian Chamber’s policy proposals outlined in its Pre-Budget Submission, including:
- Multiple funding mechanisms to ensure that high-speed internet access is Canada-wide by 2030, with $1.7 billion specifically earmarked for rural, remote and Northern communities.
- $631.2 million to expand Work-Integrated-Learning (WIL) programs, with a view to create up to 20,000 new WIL opportunities outside of STEM-related fields.
- $150 million to create new partnerships between government and industry to create up to 20,000 new WIL opportunities.
- Multiple funding mechanisms to enhance apprentice programs in skilled trades.
However, the Budget did not address the key issues identified by businesses across Canada:
- A commitment to a comprehensive review of the taxation system to make it fair and less cumbersome for businesses.
- A broad-based commitment to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses.
- A renewed commitment to eliminating inter-provincial trade barriers and mobility.
- Support for SMEs to help them find new export opportunities and expand Canada’s ability to diversify its trade.
- A clear strategy to move the Trans Mountain pipeline forward, given the significant investment made by Canadian taxpayers.
Some Budget 2019 proposals require more consideration and details before determining the impact on businesses:
- The Budget identified funding programs to develop “regulatory roadmaps” to address stakeholder issues and irritants. While these efforts align with the Bay of Quinte region chambers’ interest in reducing the regulatory burden on Canadian businesses, the Budget proposals unfortunately maintain a lackluster, made-by-government solution to a made-by-government problem.
- The new Canadian Training Credit and EI Training Support Benefits to support the up-skilling and re-skilling of Canadians align with our recommendations. However, the potential impact on small businesses remains unclear. We will require more information particularly as it relates to businesses eligible for the EI rebate (in place to compensate for the increase for businesses in these payments) and want to see a commitment that business is consulted.
- The Budget offered little new information regarding the national pharmacare plan. Our local Chambers support focusing on the 10% of Canadians that are uninsured or underinsured.
- The Bay of Quinte region chambers support making the Global Talent Stream program permanent. We would like to see the program include a focus on bringing skilled immigrants to rural communities, where they are often most needed.
