CFIB Praises City

Sep 20, 2018 | 4:05 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has done a survey of 20 of the largest cities in BC in terms of municipal property taxes on business. According to the Federation, the “CFIB analyzed the per cent of total property taxes business owners paid versus the portion of property value they represent, otherwise known as the “property tax share” or “assessment share”.”

And Prince George ranked the “fairest of those 20 communities. Music to the ears of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce.

“Anytime you can lessen the tax burden on small business, it’s certainly encouraging,” says Todd Corrigall, CEO of the local Chamber. “It’s an opportunity to see business grow and business thrive.”

“It’s encouraging to see places like Prince George get it right,” says Richard Truscott, Vice President, BC and Alberta. “Business owners deserve to operate without a massive tax burden placed on their shoulders each year. When local businesses are treated fairly, they are able to do what they do best: hire local, provide goods and services to their fellow residents, and help their community grow.”

And while Corrigall heaps praise on the City for keep property taxes low, he has little nice to say about another level of government.

“It’s great when you can have a welcoming tax regime here in the city. But impacts to small business go well beyond municipal taxes. The Province is levying new taxes and new fees on an ongoing basis at this point. And we’re seeing those impacts. We presented to the Budget Committee on Tuesday morning and I had an opportunity to talk about the impacts of the EHT [Employer Health Tax]. Some members are going to feel upwards of $150,000 per year to $300,000 over the course of the double-dipping years of 2018-2019.”

He says that’s enough to eat up any savings due to lower property taxes.

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