Good morning.
I am the founder and president of a Canadian private company that employs 280 people. We've hired 156 Canadians in the last 12 months and despite the downturn, paid $15 million in tax over the last 30 months. We were recognized as entrepreneur of the year by PROFIT magazine for high growth in employment.
My interpretation of what I am seeing in the tax proposal is that it is not something we seem to want in Canada anymore. My wife and I had to put our home up twice, once in 2008 and again in 2016, and we continue to have leverage against our home right now to get us through the downturn that we just got through as an organization. By the new rules, my interpretation is that it is now in question as to whether I can transfer dividends to her.
I am angered at the ignorance that supports that line of thinking. Our government seems to lack the understanding of what it takes to rein in spending and conserve cash in order to survive very difficult times. I believe that if Liberal MPs don't get behind their business constituents and vote against the tax proposal that's on the table, Canadians will lose jobs and we will have an accelerated international exodus from the investment community into Canadian businesses. This is already well under way.
Two weeks ago, I approved expansion plans in the U.S. and cancelled any further review of Canadian expansion of our organization. We were considering Ontario. We've dropped that completely. The message I am getting is that you are a fool to put capital at risk in the current environment in Canada.
Reduce spending. Stop taking more than what's reasonable from the economic engine that drives the tax base and creates jobs for Canada. This plan is going to kill the dream of the Canadian entrepreneur. Listen to those of us who know and understand business. I am willing to bet that most Liberal MPs know in their heart that this plan is wrong, ill-conceived, and poorly researched, and it has great risk. Do what is right. Vote this thing down.