N.S. Business Owners Most Concerned About Healthcare, Says CFIB Survey
HALIFAX – Nova Scotia will decide which parties will form the new provincial government on Tuesday. Like any other citizen, Nova Scotia’s business owners will be casting their vote, and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business has released a survey on what issues they consider most important.
The results may surprise some, as the number one priority of the business community, according to the survey, isn’t a direct business issue but one that affects the entire province – healthcare.
Sixty-seven percent of respondents indicated that investment in healthcare, which many in Nova Scotia consider being in a state of crisis, is an important enough issue to affect how they’ll vote.
Other major issues include reducing provincial taxes and fees (61 percent) and reducing “red tape” (59 percent).
Surprisingly, more money for Covid-related business supports only received 41 percent. Other measures that ranked lower on the survey include reducing debt (38 percent), protecting the environment (36 percent), and balancing the budget (35 percent).
“With 60 percent of responding members indicating they do not believe they receive good value-for-money from provincial government services, red tape reduction continues to find itself in their priorities,” said Louis-Philippe Gauthier, CFIB’s Senior Director, Legislative Affairs, Atlantic, in a press release.
“With 79 percent of small businesses in Nova Scotia reporting they have not fully recovered from the pandemic, making it as easy as possible for them to operate is one way the provincial government can help.”
According to the CFIB, only 67 percent of Nova Scotia businesses are fully reopened, and just 48 percent are fully staffed. On top of that, a mere 33 percent report bringing in “normal” revenue.