Alberta No. 3 in business vision
CFIB report puts Saskatchewan, B.C. on top
CALGARY — Alberta is ranked third in the country for the government’s vision in supporting entrepreneurship and small business, according to a new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
The report, released Wednesday, found that business owners in Saskatchewan were by far the most confident that their provincial government’s vision supports entrepreneurship and small business (72 per cent). That was followed by British Columbia and Alberta at 48 and 40 per cent, respectively.
The CFIB said Quebec and Manitoba (tied for last), had only eight per cent of respondents expressing confidence in their government’s vision to create a small business friendly climate.
Newfoundland and Labrador was fourth (27 per cent); Prince Edward Island fifth (21 per cent); New Brunswick sixth (19 per cent); Ontario seventh (15 per cent); and Nova Scotia eighth (12 per cent).
“The Premier (Alison Redford) needs to get focused on gaining a better understanding of the needs of small business,” said Richard Truscott, the CFIB’s Alberta Director.
“Leadership at the top has been a key missing ingredient, especially in terms of issues like cutting red tape, building better strategies to help deal with the labour shortages, and planning for more tax reform and relief. But that is exactly what the premiers of our two neighbouring provinces are doing.”
He said Alberta has been resting on its laurels for too long. He called the impending provincial small business strategy “a promising initiative” that he hopes will get more attention from the Premier.
The report found that 72 percent of Albertans said they would recommend starting a business in their province behind only Saskatchewan at 88 per cent.
“Small businesses represent 96 per cent of total businesses in the province and contribute nearly a third of Alberta’s GDP,” said Ben Brunnen, an economic consultant in Calgary.
“With these numbers, small businesses need to be a key consideration in any provincial economic strategy ...
“Governments are best positioned to support small businesses by eliminating unnecessary regulation, removing barriers to growth, and ensuring the tools are available to help them build capacity and retain talent.”
When asked if their premier understands the realities of running a small business, only eight per cent of Albertans replied yes compared with 52 per cent in Saskatchewan.
“The shortage of qualified labour was top of mind for small business owners in Alberta and Saskatchewan ... and must be addressed for the economy to meet its full potential,” said the CFIB report.
“Everyone should be worried about these less-thanstellar results. When small business thrives, so too does the middle class. Creating the conditions for small business success should be a top priority in Alberta,” said Truscott.