Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  It will encourage small businesses to hire more workers, which will translate into employment insurance savings by lessening the burden on the EI system. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has declared this initiative as particularly important and went further to say that it will make it easier for small businesses to create jobs. Indeed, small businesses are the engine of job creation in this country.

Government Operations committee  They feel it's cumbersome. They're trying to find their way into MERX. I know the Canadian Federation of Independent Business have commented in the past, and we get our comment sheet from CFIB members. What have you done to try to make the process a little easier for them?

Business of Supply  I suspect frankly that there are members on the other side of the House who support this initiative. It was brought forward by some very responsible groups, like the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, in terms of what we can do to assist these small businesses. This temporary hiring credit for small business will be available to approximately 525,000 employers whose total EI premiums were at or below $10,000 in 2010, which will reduce their 2011 payroll costs by about $165 million.

Business of Supply  I need to remind this House of what Catherine Swift, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, stated when discussing one of the NDP's proposals to double CPP premiums in its efforts to protect jobs. Here is what Catherine Swift in fact said, “That would mean probably about a 60% to 70% increase in premiums from what we understand, and that was very, very worrisome.

Canada-U.S. Relations  Our government moved quickly on the matter, raising concerns with the American administration to defend Canadian workers and businesses. This is what the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses had to say: Open bilateral trading arrangements are vital to SMEs on both sides of the border. CFIB is pleased to see the Canadian government moving quickly on this matter....

Sustaining Canada's Economic Recovery Act  Little wonder countless independent experts and observers have been near unanimous in their praise for Canada's economy. Canadian Federation of Independent Business president Catherine Swift has noted: Canada is currently faring better economically than most other developed countries around the world TD Bank Financial Group chief economist Craig Alexander, has declared that Canada's “economic performance was better than any other industrial nation”.

Business of Supply  The Liberal Party of Canada believed that everything had to be regulated. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business and many other small business organizations applaud this government in its ability to recognize the need to reduce red tape, regulations and those things that handcuff small and medium-sized businesses.

Business of Supply  Most of us in the House have received letters from different groups and organizations such as the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. This group that represents small- and medium-size business has come forward with certain recommendations, the first one being the freezing of payroll taxes. This group recognizes that increasing CPP and those small payroll taxes are huge disincentives to business to allow them to expand and grow.

Resumption and Continuation of Postal Services Legislation  We all remember the 1997 labour stoppage at Canada Post lasting two weeks. At the time, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business estimated that the stoppage had cost small and medium-sized businesses $200 million a day. Even though the postal service has lost ground since 1997 to technologies like email, fax as well as electronic billing and banking, small and medium-sized businesses still rely heavily on the postal service for billing and processing orders.

Resumption and Continuation of Postal Services Legislation  Therefore, at some point we must say that a reasonable time has passed and now it is time to take action. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business, CFIB, estimated that small and medium-sized businesses could expect to see a loss of around $200 for each day mail service is interrupted. I would say that in a number of other cases where there is specialized services a loss is even far greater and in excess of that.

New Democratic Party  One of these policies results from fabrications of the radical left: a work year of only 45 days. That is the NDP's idea of employment insurance reform. Last year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business described this idea as fiscally irresponsible. If ever it were put into practice, this idea would cost Canadians at least $7 billion and would permanently increase contributions by 35%.

The Budget  There has been a number of sessions. It is comprised of representatives of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and six members of Parliament. We have finished our consultations. We are ready to start to move toward reducing the red tape burden on our small businesses. There are many fantastic ideas that I know will be successful.

House debate  It provides a temporary hiring credit for small business to encourage additional hiring by this vital sector, something that was very strongly put forward and endorsed by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. It extends the work-sharing program and the targeted initiative for older workers to help Canadians in some of the hardest hits areas stay in the workforce. This has helped companies like Argus in my constituency in the Nisku area.

The Budget  It stated: Canada’s low tax plan has created a healthy economic environment for business investment and we applaud the government for staying the course. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business also came out and endorsed this budget. It endorsed the EI hiring tax credit. It stated: CFIB is extremely pleased to see its top budget priority - an EI Hiring Credit for Small Business - announced in the 2011 budget.

The Budget  The Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce was particularly happy to see our government follow through on a hiring credit for small business to apply against their EI premiums. The senior vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Dan Kelly, said, “We think that a lot of the provisions are going to help some small firms come out of the recession a bit better than they would have otherwise”.