Alberta small business confidence slides for first time in eight months

There was more uncertainty for Alberta entrepreneurs in July.

Small business confidence took a dip this month after eight months of climbing, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Barometer.

Richard Truscott, Alberta and B.C. Vice President of the CFIB, said the economy and a lack of market demand for products and services are still weighing on mom and pop shops, and he believes the provincial government is not helping the situation.

“With new costs, labour issues, there’s more employment rules, the government’s now talking about looking at workers’ compensation, there’s been the carbon tax, the $15 minimum wage. I mean, it’s just one thing after another,” he said.

He said we’ll have to wait to see the August numbers, to find out if this is the start of a trend back down.

“Well, I guess the real question is whether small businesses have hit a tipping point,” Truscott said.

“We’re now third worst in the country, which may sound bad but it was even worse in previous months where Alberta was at the bottom of the list.”

Hopefully, he said, it’s just a temporary blip.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today