• Summerside chamber of commerce looking for more support for small businesses

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    Tuesday, February 8, 2022

    SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce is calling on the provincial government to consider adding more support for small businesses impacted by COVID-19.

    When speaking with the provincial department of finance during budget consultations on Feb. 4, chamber executive director Tara Maddix said the economic cycle through the pandemic has been especially difficult for small business owners.

    “The impacts of COVID and regulatory responses of unannounced suspension of commerce, government employees working from home, displacement of workforce labour and recent challenges for the agricultural industry have made business forecasting a near-term impossibility,” said Maddix in a release. “Now more than ever, the government's three-year financial plan to 2023-2024 is an essential stability to business."

    Maddix added that more than 75 per cent of chamber members were pleased with the province's handling of the pandemic. The chamber also recognized the province's October 2021 decision to reduce the small business corporate income tax rate from two per cent to one per cent.The additional increase in the personal exemption and low-income thresholds has also appropriately increased discretionary spending, the chamber said.

    Moving forward, chamber members said the province should consider creating further access to recovery funding, support to hire and retain employees, marketing directives and e-commerce.

    The chamber also said businesses are looking for greater assurance the government's current projected recovery spending is on track and that no additional taxes will be imposed on the community.

    The chamber said 43 per cent of its members are anticipating an increase in revenue over the coming fiscal year. However, 60 per cent of members believe the recovery will take anywhere between seven to 60 months.

     
    “The chamber appreciates the opportunity to address the department of finance in today’s budget consultation,” said Maddix. “We acknowledge the important reduction in business and personal taxation and are thankful government recognizes the important contribution business makes to our province and continue to support their recovery and growth through this disruptive period which was external to anything business could predict or control.”

    Saltwire:
    https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/business/summerside-chamber-of-commerce-looking-for-more-support-for-small-businesses-100689940/
     

  • Business Truth & Reconciliation Business Truth & Reconciliation

    The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce is taking proactive steps to promote reconciliation and respect for Indigenous rights within the corporate sector. In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 92, the Chamber urges its members to embrace the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a guiding framework. This entails a commitment to meaningful consultation, fostering respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before embarking on economic projects. Moreover, the Chamber advocates for equitable access to employment, training, and educational opportunities for Indigenous communities, ensuring they reap sustainable benefits from economic development initiatives.

     

    Recognizing the importance of education, the Chamber encourages businesses to provide comprehensive training for management and staff on the history of Indigenous peoples, including the legacy of residential schools, Indigenous rights, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. Emphasizing intercultural competency, conflict resolution, and anti-racism, these efforts aim to foster a more inclusive and harmonious corporate environment rooted in mutual understanding and respect.

    Learn more click here