Exhausted, overtaxed and ready to give up: BC business

The provincial NDP Government is driving BC business into the ground, according to the Conservative MLAs for Kelowna-Mission and Kamloops-Centre.

"Small business owners are telling us they're exhausted, overtaxed and ready to give up," said Gavin Dew, the Conservative MLA for Kelowna-Mission and the Official Opposition critic for jobs, economic development and innovation.

"We are on the verge of losing an entire generation of entrepreneurs. Instead of performing for the cameras by talking about Donald Trump, (BC NDP Premier) David Eby should focus on what's under his control -- fixing BC's broken business climate, lowering costs and creating conditions for investment and opportunity."

Fuel for Dew's fire is new research from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business that shows BC small businesses face one of the most punishing tax environments in North America.

Dew calls it "a rock-bottom moment" for business confidence.

As an example, the federation's Uneven Ground report outlines how a microbusiness in Vancouver pays $45,000 in total taxes annually, ranking it 16th worst of 30 jurisdictions surveyed.

A microbusiness is generally considered to be a company that has fewer than five employers or just a single self-employed entrepreneur.

A business in BC with 25 employees sees the tax bill skyrocket to $364,000 a year, including over $200,000 in payroll taxes, making BC 22nd worst out of 29 overall and second worst in North America behind only Quebec.

"These numbers tell a tragic story," said Peter Milobar, Conservative MLA for Kamloops-Centre and Official Opposition critic for finance.

"Higher taxes mean fewer jobs, less investment and a stagnant economy. Instead of helping small businesses reinvest in their workers and communities, the NDP has piled on red tape and costs that make it harder to keep doors open. The Eby government is ignoring the very people who drive our economy."

In its budget for 2025, the Eby government admits these are challenging economic times, but vows to support economic growth to create the wealth needed for the services and programs British Columbians rely on.

The budget forecasts 1.8% economic growth this year, 1.9% next.

The NDP government has to act swiftly and definitively, according to Dew.

"British Columbians deserve better than a premier who is distracted by chasing headlilnes. He needs to level the playing field for small business, protect the entrepreneurs we have and rebuild the conditions for growth. If we don't, we risk not just losing jobs today, but losing the next generation of job creators altogether."

Dew has been very vocal recently about how the provincial government is failing business and the public.

Last month, he commented on the Canadian Federation of Independent Business report that showed BC scored only 36.6 out of 100 on the business confidence index, the lowest of all provinces.

Dew pointed out how business confidence has "cratered" amid high taxes, insurance and regulations and reduced consumer spending.

Also last month, Dew was dismayed that, according to Statistics Canada, 70,000 British Columbians fled to other provinces in search of better jobs and cheaper housing.