{"id":58423,"date":"2025-09-12T12:16:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T15:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaker.ca\/?p=58423"},"modified":"2025-09-12T12:16:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T15:16:20","slug":"new-report-finds-half-of-small-businesses-in-atlantic-canada-dont-believe-their-municipality-is-small-business-friendly-cfib","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/?p=58423","title":{"rendered":"New report finds half of small businesses in Atlantic Canada don\u2019t believe their municipality is small business friendly: CFIB"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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HALIFAX: <\/strong>Only half of Atlantic Canadian small businesses believe their municipal government is small-business friendly, according to a new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CFIB\u2019s 2025 Atlantic Municipal report shows measures municipalities can take to improve conditions for small businesses in their city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes measures like cutting costs and red tape to save businesses time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are advocating for policies that save businesses time and money so that it can be invested in their business, rather than spent on regulations and red tape. Municipalities have a large role to play in the day-to-day costs and red tape businesses face,\u201d said Duncan Robertson, CFIB\u2019s Director of Legislative Affairs for Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The report calls on Atlantic Canada\u2019s municipalities to eliminate policies that make it more difficult to do business and adopt policies to support them. This includes making processes like permit applications more transparent and less costly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most municipalities do not say how long it may take to get a permit, and that a majority (59%) of business owners find costs such as municipal taxes and fees unpredictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKnowing how long it will take to get a permit, and whether that permit will be more expensive next year can help businesses plan for growth.” added Robertson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Municipalities should make these processes clearer and reduce uncertainty, so businesses have the confidence to invest in our region.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s Atlantic Municipal report also find that Atlantic Canadian businesses are more likely to be affected by issues related to infrastructure, congestion, and construction than last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aging infrastructure and growing pains are affecting businesses. Careful planning is needed to help businesses thrive despite these challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese are issues we have raised and will continue to raise with municipalities. It\u2019s disappointing to see a larger share of businesses affected by these issues. This report provides recommendations on how municipalities can help businesses thrive despite these challenges,\u201d said Robertson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To help small businesses thrive, CFIB is calling on municipal governments to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n