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Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce combats proposed tax changes

The Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce is leading the way in calling on the Canadian government to ensure a fair, simple and modern tax system.
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The Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce is leading the way in calling on the Canadian government to ensure a fair, simple and modern tax system.

The local chamber proposed establishing a royal commission to review and revise Canada’s tax statutes at the annual Canadian Chamber of Commerce meeting in Fredericton, N.B., on Saturday.

The delegates met to debate and vote on the advocacy agenda for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Robin Bobocel, CEO of the Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce, said the local chamber received overwhelming support and applause from other chamber delegates when the chamber introduced the plan.

Bobocel said the tax changes and the timeline proposed by the Liberal government are unfair. The chamber members want to see the consultation deadline — which is currently Oct. 2 — extended. He said the tax changes were proposed by the Liberals over the summer when small business owners are either busy or away.

The changes, if passed, would mean a higher tax rate for small businesses which would have a trickle down effect such as layoffs or shut down of businesses.

One of the proposed changes could mean end of multi-generational businesses including family farms.

“The way these changes are being proposed, it makes more sense for a farmer to sell their farm to a third party, when they retire rather than transfer those shares or sell to a family member, so it signals the end of family farms and that’s something we should be concerned about in Red Deer and Central Alberta,” said Bobocel.

The decision to call a royal commission aims to remove any political and bureaucratic influences in relation to Canada’s tax code.

Bobocel said the current tax code is more than 3,000 pages long, and needs to be simplified and modernized.

Chambers across the country can now utilize the policy in their advocacy work against the proposed tax changes by the Liberal government.

The chamber is seeking feedback on the proposed tax changes from its 800-member base in Central Alberta.



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