CFIB New Brunswick

Louis-Philippe Gauthier. Vice-President, Atlantic | @CFIBAtlantic | In business for your business / En affaires pour vos affaires

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

For several days, CFIB has been seeking clarification from ministers on whether tariff relief programs will be opened up to small business. This interview with Minister @EvanLSolomon suggests it may happen eventually.

CFIB has had some positive signals that the current thresholds that block at least half of small businesses from applying for support through Regional Development Agencies may be lowered or scrapped. But I can offer no confirmation today.

It is shameful that this issue, which CFIB has been raising for months, has not been fixed.

https://t.co/Ez4q8MEA5v

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

While we appreciate that the government is trying to move quickly, at first glance it looks like small business owners are being served the usual alphabet soup of complicated programs. They will be challenging for small business owners to figure out, let alone use.

To date, the federal Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) delivered by Regional Development Agencies have excluded most small businesses from even applying.  Some required a minimum of $2 million in sales, others a minimum of 10 employees. Today’s announcement doesn’t appear to have changed these thresholds. Unless the thresholds are eliminated entirely, then the government will have failed in its promise to support small business owners. The new U.S. 50% tariff hits even the smallest home-based jewellery maker, so why would our government’s support exclude them?

What we are looking for is one simple program for small businesses that removes as much of the burden of tariffs as possible, ideally delivered by the Canada Revenue Agency.  Instead, we have a patchwork of agencies and programs that no small business has ever heard of before, largely delivering loans to businesses that will have no ability to pay them back. 

While I respect Canada’s need to respond to the U.S. threat, the giant list of counter tariffs will create their own severe challenges for many small businesses who have already done what they can to seek new sources of supply. Canada’s support programs need to be available for companies that use, import or distribute U.S. products too.  

And for tens of thousands of other businesses, the trade war will mean more uncertainty, higher input costs and lower consumer demand due to its indirect impacts. CFIB is urging the federal government to deliver an immediate cut to the small business tax rate, retroactive to January 1, 2026. The government already publicly signaled a focus on small business in the 2026 fall budget. Doing it now would send a much-needed reassuring message to Canada's entrepreneurs.

We’re also urging the government to extend the suspension of the federal excise tax on gasoline and diesel. It’s set to expire on Sept. 7, one day before retaliatory tariffs kick in. The timing couldn’t be worse to see taxes and fuel prices rise.

I do recognize that it is very challenging to get programs right in a matter of days. As we did during the pandemic, CFIB stands ready to work closely with the federal government and all parliamentarians to find ways to make any supports work for Canada’s small business community.

https://t.co/XGE7z0p94n

[CFIB New Brunswick @cfibnb]

CFIB statement on Canada’s tariff relief measures
https://t.co/PwFHP2IoTd

[CFIB News @CFIBNews]

For 55 years, CFIB has been the leading voice for small business in Canada. 

Advocacy has always been at the heart of our work. From local priorities to national policy, we've championed the issues that matter most to small businesses and helped shape a stronger business environment across every province. 

The impact is reflected in communities across the country, but the work doesn't stop here. CFIB will continue advocating for the policies and conditions that help Canadian small businesses succeed. 

See our advocacy impact from coast to coast. 🔽 

#CFIBsince1971

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

Glad to see Finance Minister @FP_Champagne specifically welcoming ideas on how to support SMEs as he consults on the fall budget. CFIB has many ideas - starting with cutting the small biz rate to 6% and increasing the threshold to $700,000.

Champagne seeks pitches for tax changes, energy policy ahead of 2026 budget /via @globeandmail https://t.co/BF9G8X8t84

[CFIB/FCEI Stats @CFIB_FCEI_Stats]

Jeudi dernier, la FCEI a publié le Baromètre des affaires de juin 2026 : notre économiste principale, Laure-Anna Bomal, discute des faits saillants ci-dessous avec Louis‑Philippe Gauthier (@CFIBAtlantic).

Communiqué : https://t.co/WY4Zi2UTLM

Rapport : https://t.co/u0uO3KREzt

[CFIB/FCEI Stats @CFIB_FCEI_Stats]

Last Thursday, CFIB released its Business Barometer® for June 2026: our Chief Economist & VP Research, @Sim_Gaudreault , discuss some of the highlights below with Louis-Philippe Gauthier (@CFIBAtlantic).

Media release: https://t.co/kkOSExcMTS

Report: https://t.co/stl4B4quEy

[CFIB News @CFIBNews]

📢 Do you do business across provincial or territorial borders? 

Help shape the future of interprovincial trade in Canada by sharing your experience on the movement of services. The Committee on Internal Trade is gathering input from businesses like yours! 

🔗 Submit your feedback by June 17, 2026. Visit:  https://t.co/xxkbRFQLIM 

#SmallBusiness #InterprovincialTrade #CdnPoli

[CFIB New Brunswick @cfibnb]

CFIB calls on federal government to follow provinces by cutting small business taxes

➡️Multiple provinces have followed CFIB's recommendation of providing relief to small businesses.

🚨It's time for Ottawa to do the same.

https://t.co/qWnXGKDT4V

[CFIB News @CFIBNews]

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is raising concerns over the lack of transparency and progress of implementing direct-to-consumer (DTC) alcohol shipment policies, despite governments promising action by the end of May. 🔗 For more information, visit:
https://t.co/Q5ibPNgRcC

[CFIB New Brunswick @cfibnb]

CFIB statement on founder John Bulloch’s passing https://t.co/KkThuNPm9m

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

Great panel of CFIB’s Directors from across the country at our annual legislative meeting in Montreal. Happy to be working with these smart people.

[Telegraph-Journal @TJProvincial]

Half-billion-dollar NB Power rip-off must end, says business official https://t.co/ncfUOcW065

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

So far, programs like this have been useless for small firms. Even in programs created to support small firms hit by tariffs, Ottawa includes $ or staffing thresholds that exclude the majority of Canadian small businesses.

Typically, programs are created to sound helpful, but then design them to ensure they deliver as little as possible other than to a handful of large firms.

It is far better to provide broadly available tax or regulatory relief.

Ottawa unveils $1.5-billion in aid to industries hurt by U.S. tariffs /via @globeandmail https://t.co/FR2NaaYHsS

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

A payroll tax cut that should be just a start https://t.co/4NoklWgwyL

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

The spring update does have one big win for small business – a significant reduction in Canada Pension Plan (CPP) premiums paid by employers and employees. Small firms are payroll intensive, and a cut in the premium rate from 9.9% to 9.5% will put $3 billion back into the pockets of employees and payroll budgets of employers.

This is good news and helps offset the unwelcome projected increase in Employment Insurance (EI) rates.

The other positive measures in today’s update include major changes to Canada’s apprenticeship supports focused on the trades. As long as we can keep the paperwork and red tape light, the new Apprenticeship Grant and $10,000 wage incentive for employers should be a big boost for small firms involved in Canada’s trades.

CFIB is very pleased the government listened to its request to make the new Employee Ownership Trust tax exemption permanent. Employee ownership is a great way to provide more options for entrepreneurs when they are looking to sell. Making this measure permanent will help ensure this measure is considered by more small business owners.

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

The federal spring economic update includes some welcome measures, but it is not enough to halt the alarming loss of small businesses across Canada.

The update continues the federal government’s focus on investments in major projects and large companies, with small and medium-sized firms stuck in the same old mix of red tape and high taxes. I don’t see much that will help Canada avoid a seventh quarter in a row of losses in the net number of small businesses. We need action to stop Canada’s entrepreneurial drought.

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

Giant funds, like the proposed Canada Strong Fund, have been tried in past budgets, without moving the economic growth needle.

What worries me is that Ottawa is trying to stimulate things for a few by using tax dollars and exemptions from normal rules, while ignoring the tougher job of encouraging entrepreneurship and facilitating growth in smaller businesses.

CFIB will continue its call for a significant reduction in the small business corporate tax rate.

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

While it is welcome news that the current year’s deficit is projected to be smaller than in the fall budget, it is worrisome there is no plan to return to a balanced budget.

Government is projecting deficits over $50 billion for as far as the eye can see and small firms have learned the hard way that today’s deficits become tomorrow’s taxes.

[Dan Kelly @CFIB]

The changes without consultation were the several years of working from home. This is a return to our normal expectations for highly paid civil servants.