Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership candidate Vic Fedeli recently added his voice in support of a letter from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and co-signed by the Centre Wellington Chamber to the Liberal government.
The letter raised questions about the impact of Kathleen Wynne’s pension payroll tax on the province’s small business sector. Fedeli has committed to stopping the pension payroll tax as part of his Ontario First for Small Business campaign.
“We need to make Ontario the best place for small businesses to flourish,” he said. “That means doing everything we can to make it easier, not harder, for small businesses to survive and to thrive. The result will be more jobs in every community in the province.”
Last week at Queen’s Park, Fedeli questioned Wynne on the subject and presented a petition on behalf of 3,600 businesses to stop the tax in its tracks. He also revealed an internal document from the Ontario Ministry of Finance showing that for every $2 billion in pension payroll tax the Liberal government siphons, they will kill 18,000 jobs.
“We need to unleash Ontario’s entrepreneurial spirit,” said Fedeli.
“I see it in the women and men I meet across the province every day. I see it in newcomers to our province and in those who have been here for generations. I see it in young people, who have fabulous ideas but simply find too many obstacles to beginning their dream. Everything that the government does should consider whether it helps or hurts small business. There are many things we can and will do to work towards this goal. But the first thing we must do is stop the pension payroll tax to enable a more sustainable system.”
A survey released by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business outlined the impact of the pension payroll tax. The report said 69 per cent of small businesses will freeze or cut salaries; 53% will need to let employees go, and 13% will be forced to close down due to the added costs.
Fedeli’s position on the tax is the first initiative in his Ontario First for Small Business campaign, which will roll out three additional pillars in the weeks ahead.
For more information visit www.OntarioFirst.ca.
