Canadian Federation of Independent Business CFIB: Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia: If anything, thats an understatement. Small business forms the backbone of Nova Scotias economy: more than 97 per cent of businesses in this province employ under 50 people. Together with the provinces mid-sized firms the companies that have up to 500 people on their payrolls our small-business community is responsible for over half of the provinces employment, according to The Chronicle Herald. Just as important, small businesses help create a communitys identity and attract visitor traffic. Just think: How different would Truro be in October without the local farms and their wildly popular pre-Halloween corn mazes? Or downtown Halifax without the many independently owned galleries and artists spaces that transform the city during the celebrated annual Nocturne event? These are just two examples of how small, independently owned businesses not only generate employment, but also help forge community identity. Yet small business in Nova Scotia is struggling. A recent Canadian Federation of Independent Business CFIB survey found that 40 per cent of respondents were pessimistic about the future of their business in Nova Scotia, and that over 60 per cent were also pessimistic about the future of the Nova Scotia economy and With a hotly contested election well underway in Nova Scotia, theres been much political talk about the importance of small business. But the importance of small businesses goes beyond just the numbers. In communities all across Nova Scotia, they re most often the ones supporting local charities, sponsoring kids sports teams and providing volunteers to help pull off signature community events. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.