BIABC wants provincial election campaign to focus on issues facing small business

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“Those are major barriers for businesses here in B.C. and we’ve see a massive migration of B.C. businesses to other jurisdictions.”

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Heighton said the NDP’s decision to pause its planned Oct. 1 PST expansion is an example of a government responding to pressures facing businesses. BIABC is urging whoever forms government to commit to scrapping that expansion.

“Whatever role the prospect of an election may have played in the timing, this was the right decision,” Heighton added. “Businesses told us clearly that this tax would add costs at exactly the wrong time, and we are pleased the government listened and changed course.”

In a statement, BIABC said it believes the election campaign should focus on four issues:

• Public safety and street disorder: A comprehensive approach to repeat offending, retail crime, mental health and addictions that recognizes their impact on businesses, employees, customers and communities.
• The cost of doing business: Building on the PST decision by considering the cumulative impact of taxes, fees and regulatory requirements on small businesses already operating on thin margins.
• Build a more resilient Canadian economy: Continue to reduce interprovincial trade barriers, strengthen domestic and local procurement and make it easier for BC and Canadian businesses to sell their goods and services to customers across the country.
• Stronger downtowns and commercial districts: A commitment to fulsomely work with BIAs, municipalities, police, health authorities and community organizations on solutions that restore confidence in B.C.’s downtowns and Main Streets.

Heighton also noted a recent province-wide BIABC survey found 65 per cent of respondents considered public safety and street disorder a significant concern. Sixty-three per cent believed operating conditions have worsened over the past year while 68 per cent were concerned about the impact of crime on employees.

The survey also found 89 per cent believed governments are not doing enough to address repeat offending, retail crime and public safety.

“As a provincial association, BIABC has been avidly supporting our membership across the province – 80,000 small businesses,” Heighton said. “We need the province of B.C. to be proactive. We need the province of B.C. to be responsive and we need the province of B.C. to be respectful of the business community.”

“We’re hopeful this provincial election will… chart a new course for the province of B.C. because for the last couple of years, fiscally if nothing else, we are definitely off track.”