politicians on Monday to lower business property taxes, making them more
comparable to residential property taxes.
Garth Whyte, the CFIB senior VP of national affairs, told the Ottawa Transition Board
that commercial taxes are the biggest obstacle to future growth for small and
medium-sized businesses.
A recent CFIB national survey found that 68.7% of local small business owners are
concerned about the cost of local government and business property taxes,
compared to 57.1% in Ontario and 41.6% nationally.
"We are most concerned that this very important issue to small business owners is
not being seriously considered by the Transition Board, nor is it being addressed
during the current municipal election campaign," said Whyte.
The CFIB's appeal kicked off three days of public budget consultations for the
Transition Board which is overseeing the amalgamation of the region's 11
municipalities into one mega-city.
The CFIB survey also found that in 79.1% of small Ottawa business owners said
reductions in business property taxes would have a large benefit for them,
compared to 62.9% in Ontario and 54.9% nationally.
"There's no better time then now to make these appeals," said Whyte. "There's no
better time to do it because of a good economy, an election and the transitional
process. But (the politicians) had better listen because eventually people are going
to wake up and they'll really get a big surprise."
Whyte pointed out that the federal and provincial governments have already gone
ahead with their own tax-cutting plans.
"The gap has to start closing," said Whyte. ``Fifty-percent of businesses make zero
profit and they still have to pay this tax. It's not fair and it's not appropriate."
The board is expected to release a draft budget for the new city on Dec. 1, with
approval by the new city council slated for January.
