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Small Business

Question period exchange on small business. The Conservatives said more businesses are closing than opening, citing CFIB figures on closures and the cost of government paperwork, and asked whether the government would cut red tape, taxes and spending. The Liberals said they are supporting small businesses by helping them export, including them in defence plans, pausing the excise tax and reducing red tape, and that they consult business owners regularly.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Sandra Cobena

Conservative
“More businesses are closing than opening in Canada. They spend too much time on government paperwork. Will the minister admit Liberal policies have failed and get out of the way of small businesses?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the CFIB has sounded the alarm on the entrepreneurial drought in Canada for six consecutive quarters. More businesses have shut down than opened up. The Montreal Economic Institute has said that “the heartbeat of innovation, job creation and economic growth...is in sharp decline”. Small businesses spend about 250 hours per year on red tape that could be eliminated, and it would not even cost the government a single dollar. Will the minister admit that the Liberals’ tax-and-spend approach has failed and get out of the way so that our businesses can thrive?

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Marie-Gabrielle Ménard

Liberal

Linked statement

“We are supporting small businesses. We are helping them sell goods to other countries and including them in our defence plan. We also paused the excise tax to help them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, of course, I share my colleague’s concern for our small businesses. Canada is home to one million businesses employing six million Canadians. I have just finished a series of round-table discussions, and we are working with SMEs to help them get export-ready. Small businesses will have their place in Canada’s defence industrial strategy. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business welcomed the suspension of the excise tax. That also supports small businesses in Canada.

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Sandra Cobena

Conservative
“Businesses spend too much time and money on government paperwork. Will the government cut red tape, taxes, and spending so businesses can succeed?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurs need a direct and clear answer. The CFIB estimates that the total regulatory cost of government is $52 billion. Businesses are burning through a collective 768 million hours annually on paperwork. Just this week, I met with businesses that have heard Liberal promises for almost a decade. They are asking if the Liberals could just leave the starting line and do something. Will the Liberals commit today to cutting their red tape taxes and government spending, so that businesses can actually thrive in our country?

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Marie-Gabrielle Ménard

Liberal
“Our plan helps small businesses by cutting red tape. I talk to business owners every week, and our changes are helping them.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 44 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have been clear. That is part of the strategy to support small business. Part of our approach involves reducing red tape for businesses. Obviously, I do not entirely agree with my colleague’s statement. I consult with small business owners every week to understand what they are going through. My sense is that the transformation that we are currently undertaking is helpful and gives our small businesses hope for a bright future.

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