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www.cfib.ca
Agenda
About CFIB & our members Top priorities
Fiscal Responsibility Taxation Red Tape
Issues to watch Workers’ Compensation Commission on future of agriculture
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Empowering Agri-Business
Meeting with Hon. Neil LeClair
June 19, 2008
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About CFIB
Result of a tax protest 36 years ago 106,000 members nationally; 1,100 in PEI 6,500 agri-business members Policy stance decided by members; one-
member, one-vote 100% member funded
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The Power of Entrepreneurs: About more than business
Economic Contributions:
• SMEs employ 2/3 of working Islanders
• SMEs create 60% of new jobs in PEI
• SMEs responsible for 45% of PEI’s GDPSource: Statistics Canada• SMEs contribute time and money to amateur sports, arts and culture, youth activities
• Many roles: volunteers, trainers, parents, activities, leaders Sources: CFIB Building Better Communities Survey, 2005
Social Contributions:
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Business Barometer, March 08
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Farmers and Small Business Owners the Most Respected:
Independent Poll (Scale of 0 to 10, where 10 is greatest level of respect)
7.4
7
6.4
6.1
5.2
5.2
5
4.5
4.5
Farmers
Small businesses
Educ system/Schools
Healthcare system
Legal system/Courts
Banks
Large companies
Government
Unions
Source: CFIB’s Small Business, Big Value report, October 2007
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CFIB agriculture research projects NEW! Coming soon… Growing Forward – Agri-
Business views of AgriInvest and AgriStability Cultivating a Fertile Foundation: Agri-business agenda
for the Next Generation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Policy CFIA Report Card: A small business assessment of the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency The Case Against CAIS: CFIB agri-business members’
views of the CAIS Program Agri-Business – A Partner Committed to Farm Safety CWB: An agri-business perspective on the future of the
Canadian Wheat Board
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CFIB research projects Immigration and Small Business: Ideas to better
respond to Canada’s skills and labour shortage Help Wanted: Long term vacancies grow for Canada’s
entrepreneurs Succession Planning: Investing in Your Future, Building
a Succession Plan Red Tape: Rated “R” - Prosperity Restricted by Red Tape Environment: Achieving Eco-Prosperity – SMEs’
perspectives on the environment Banking Matters: Survey results of small business
owners on banking issues Coming soon… Reports on Tax Competitiveness
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Empowering Entrepreneurs: Top Priorities
Balanced budget Spending restraint Balanced budget legislation
Tax reductions Personal income taxes (BPE, Indexation) Small Business corporate rate
Red tape Measurement Commitment to reduce
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Empowering Agri-business: Concerns of agriculture members
Source: CFIB Our Farm Members’ Opinions Survey No.14, PEI, December 2007
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Empowering Agri-Business:Tax Reduction Priorities
Source: CFIB Our Farm Members’ Opinions Survey No.14, PEI, December 2007
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Empowering Agri-business: Red Tape
Cost of complying with regulations in PEI totals $102.3 million each year
Compliance costs are highest for the smallest businesses Regulations cost a typical Island firm (fewer
than 4 employees) $5,360 annually
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Empowering Agri-business: Red Tape
68% are calling on government to publicly report regulatory burden on businesses set targets for red tape reductions
67% support legislation that would restrict the introduction of new rules & regulations
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Empowering Agri-business: Government Paperwork- TIME
Increased significantly
54%Increased somewhat
33%
No change
13%
Decreased
0%
Source: CFIB, PEI Provincial Survey, 2006
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Empowering Agri-business: Government fees, permits, licenses
Increased significantly
50%
Increased somewhat
33%
No change
17%
Decreased
0%
Source: CFIB, PEI Provincial Survey, 2006
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Empowering Agri-business: Provincial Government Accountability
Good
0%Acceptable
26%
Poor
74%
Source: CFIB, PEI Provincial Survey, 2006
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Empowering Agri-business:Reducing Red Tape Government commitment in Budget
2008
Keys to successful reform: Measurement
Public Reporting
Targets for reductions
Improve communication & customer service
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Empowering Agri-business:Workers’ Compensation
Concern over recommendations from WCB review Mandatory inclusion of farming operations
Removal of three-day waiting period
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Empowering Agri-business: Environmental Laws/Regulation Concerns
Environmental Laws and Regulations Cited as High Priority Issues
46 4640
7163 64 60
5263 65
BC AB SK MB ON QU NB NS PE CA0
20
40
60
80
100
Per
cen
t re
spo
nse
Source: CFIB, Our Farm Members’ Opinions Survey No. 13 – December 2006Note: NL data not provided as sample size too small
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Empowering Agri-business: Environmental Regulations
75.1
65.3
50.4
42.6
41.4
40.2
35.6
35.1
22.2
9.5
6.6
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Agriculture
Primary
Transportation/Comm.
Construction
Manufacturing
Retail
Wholesale
Hospitality & Other svces
Educ./health/social svces
Business services
Fin/Ins./Real estate
Firms subject to environmental regulations (by sector)
Source: CFIB Point of View-Energy and Environment, March 2007
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Empowering Agri-business: Environmental Stewardship
30.0
28.7
17.9
17.8
16.9
15.5
14.7
14.0
14.2
13.7
12.9
57.8
53.1
56.7
68.1
64.4
65.8
66.3
66.5
64.3
70.4
70.3
6.3
7.2
10.4
6.7
8.2
8.5
6.7
8.6
6.4
7.2
6.5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Agriculture
Transp./comm.
Primary
Hospitality & other svces
Construction
Manufacturing
Business services
Wholesale
Fin/Ins/Real estate
Retail
Educ/health/social svces
Major changes Minor changes Plan to in next year
Energy conservation measures (by sector)
Source: CFIB Point of View-Energy and Environment, March 2007
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Empowering Agri-business:Fair compensation
Should government compensate farmers for the role they play in protecting water, soil quality, and wildlife habitat?
Benefits society not just agriculture
Source: CFIB Our Farm Members’ Opinions Survey No.13, PEI, December 2006
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Empowering Agri-business:Priorities for Growing Forward
Reduce the regulatory burden
Reduce the total tax burden
Implement effective safety net programs
Introduce succession- friendly policies
CFIB meets with Minister Ritz
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Empowering Agri-business:Future of Agriculture
Priorities for commission?
Opportunities for CFIB involvement?
