The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce has voiced concerns about the federal budget handed down by Bill Morneau Tuesday.
In a release issued Thursday, the Chamber said the budget “fails to address the fundamental issues undermining the ability of Canada’s business owners to create more jobs and economic prosperity for all Canadians.”
“The path to economic prosperity in the Battlefords is still unclear for local businesses and job creators,” said Dallan Oberg, Chair of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce, in a news release.
“While the budget delivers on some of our national advocacy priorities, particularly in the areas of skills and infrastructure, it fails to provide concrete measures to address the tax and regulatory burden on businesses.”
The chamber noted the budget did deliver on some Canadian chamber policy proposals. Those included multiple funding mechanisms to ensure high-speed internet access is Canada-wide by 2030, $631.2 million to expand Work-Integrated-Learning (WIL) program, $150 million towards new partnerships between government and industry to create up to 20,000 new WIL opportunities, and multiple funding mechanisms to enhance apprentice programs in skilled trades.
However, the chamber said the budget did not address key issues identified by businesses. Not addressed was the need for a comprehensive review of the taxation system to make it fair and less cumbersome for businesses, a commitment to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses, eliminating inter-provincial trade barriers, and support for small and medium sized enterprises to help them find new export opportunities and expand Canada’s ability to diversify trade. A clear strategy to move the Trans Mountain pipeline forward was not addressed either.
The chamber said some budget proposals require more consideration and details. These include funding programs to develop “regulatory roadmaps,” the potential impact of the new Canadian Training Credit and EI Training Support Benefits, the national pharmacare plan, and on making the Global Talent Stream program permanent.
The Chamber said they plan to “continue to engage with federal representatives to focus on reducing the overall taxation, regulatory burden as critical priorities for Canadian businesses and SMEs to maintain competitiveness and prosperity for all Canadians.”
