Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much to all of our witnesses for being here.
I see a lot of friends on the witness stand today, and it's a pleasure to have all of you with me.
I'm looking at a March 22, 2023, article that indicates that small businesses had paid, at that time, a total of $22 billion in federal carbon tax. I'm also looking at a February 20, 2024, article that indicates the federal government scaled back its carbon tax rebates for small businesses and in fact owed small businesses $2.5 billion in promised carbon tax revenues, which, as of the date of this article, had not been returned to small businesses.
Ms. Pohlmann, I recognize that your organization estimates that small businesses contribute as much as 40% of the government's overall carbon price revenue, even though data from your organization indicates that 52% of small firms oppose carbon pricing, and that as a result of this carbon pricing, they're being forced to raise prices for consumers.
Further, more than four in 10 businesses, or 45%, said carbon pricing will increase pressure on them to freeze or cut salaries and wages, something that parties in this room would supposedly like to see maintained or improved, and 40% say they will have to reduce investment in their businesses.
We know that this government likes to perpetuate the lie that the carbon tax is even revenue neutral, never mind that families are losing funds as a result of this carbon tax, as was evidenced by testimony of the Parliamentary Budget Officer to that effect.
Ms. Pohlmann, would you agree that this is also not true for small businesses in Canada? Would you agree that they are in fact losing money due to the carbon tax, and that they are in fact owed money by this federal government? Would you agree that these cuts to the carbon tax should not be implemented, because of the $22 billion that has already been collected, and the $2.5 billion promised back to them that they have yet to receive? Can you comment on that, please, Ms. Pohlmann?