Why pick on these professionals?

Re: The NDP’s “loophole” test, July 28, Erin Weir

Approximately 20 years ago, my two partners and I left our jobs, took a leap into the unknown and started our own small business.

We signed a lease with personal guarantees, took out a large bank loan to finance the acquisition of equipment, hired employees, and worked very hard for very little money in the early years. We took financial risks even though we each had young families to support.

Through the years our business has grown and we have invested more, hired more employees, took on more leased space, and continuously have to manage our business, find new customers, collect our accounts, work hard and take risk.

In running a small business you quickly learn you have to first pay the employees, the bank, the overhead and taxes and then, and only then, you hopefully get to take some money home when the cash flow permits.

Our business is the sale of legal services and yes, we are the professionals Mr. Weir refers to. My question to Mr. Weir, Finance Minister Bill Morneau, the NDP and other like thinkers is: Why are we to be treated differently than any other small business owners? Why are we deemed to be a target of higher taxes than a business that makes widgets? Why does Mr. Weir denigrate what we do and target us as “wealthy professionals” who are hiding behind private corporations when we are no different than any other small business owners? Morris Sosnovitch, Certified Specialist — Real Estate Law, Toronto