The Prince George Chamber of Commerce is in the same boat as many others when it comes to their feelings on the NDP government’s first year in office.
It’s been a rocky relationship, to say the least between the two after a CFIB Report Card this morning issued a “D” grade due to a number of policies impacting the sector.
One of which is the Employer Health Tax set to take effect on January 1st.
Local Chamber CEO Todd Corrigall says while there is nothing they can do on the surface about the tax, it will have a negative impact on the northern capital.
“When we look at the double-dipping that’s occurring on that, small businesses are being taken advantage of in this respect and the unfortunate part about that is businesses will be forced to close, businesses will be forced to cut back on staff and the result of that is less money into the economy.”
Corrigall views the EHT and the increases to minimum wage as a piling on of sorts, making the uphill climb that much steeper for small businesses.
“While most people were in favor of an increase to provide living wage opportunities to their employees and to produce more money for the economy, it was having a more strategic approach to it and balancing those numbers out.”
There are some serious issues on policies impacting small businesses and that some additional work needs to be done in order to improve.