Guest Speaker Laura Jones

This week we had an informative talk by Laura, who is the Vice-President, Western Canada with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. The CFIB was started 36 years ago in response to a proposal to tax small businesses at twice the rate of large businesses. The idea was "If you're not at the table - you will be dinner!". Joining CFIF gives small business owners a reasonable way to "be at the table". Currently there are over 100,000 members, 10,000 of whom are in BC. Laura gave an example of what they can do to help their members. They recently helped a clothing store fight a Government Audit result that showed them owing $93,000 PST on cloth they sold. Although this cloth was purchased to make clothes (which is PST exempt) the Auditor said that some of it may be used for quilts! As a result of CFIB involement the $93,000 was reversed. Imagine what life would be like without small businesses - your favourite restaurant, dry cleaner, book store would all be gone.