Business of Supply  The answer is that the farmer who pays $150,000 in carbon taxes is going to get none of that money back, and the cost is all going to be passed along to Canadians trying to buy food. I am going to try another question. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has said that the carbon tax will cost small businesses x amount of dollars in 2023. Does the finance minister know how much it is going to cost small business?

Finance committee  As you know, we have 97,000 small and medium-sized companies as members of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. When I look at the state of affairs for small businesses, we are still deeply worried about what is happening with the situation facing SMEs across the country. If you can believe it, still, three years in, only half of small businesses in Canada are back to normal levels of sales, prepandemic levels of sales—only half.

Finance committee  From Pulse Canada, we have the vice-president, Greg Northey, with us. We are going to start with opening remarks from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Mr. Dan Kelly, please.

Finance committee  Gray, I expect we may not agree on all the finer points of employment insurance policy, but one thing that I know both the Canadian Labour Congress and the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses have talked about is the decision of the government to attribute 25 billion dollars' worth of CERB debt to the EI account. The EI account has a legislated mandate to balance over a seven-year horizon.

An Act Respecting Regulatory Modernization  Those members over there know that their party lacks any credibility on this issue. Remember, it was just this year that, in its red-tape report card, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business gave the Liberals the worst-ever federal government grade for their inaction on reducing red tape. I can guarantee that every member on that side has heard the outcry from constituents and from business leaders in their own ridings.

Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1  To support hard-working small business owners, budget 2023 has outlined the government's efforts to work closely with small businesses and the payment card industry to lower these fees. This includes the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which represents over 97,000 small and medium-sized enterprises. I have had the pleasure to sit down with some of them and learn more about the challenges that small businesses, these mom-and-pop shops across our country, go through on a regular basis and how we can help.

Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1  I would point the member to some of the comments made by the CFIB, the Canadian Federation for Independent Business. Its members were extremely pleased to see in our budget a long-standing request, which was to reduce credit card transaction fees. This is something that we worked on with CFIB and our entrepreneurs across the country; we got it done.

Carbon Pricing  Speaker, it is very interesting to hear my Conservative colleague talk about the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, because the CFIB highlighted just how extraordinary budget 2023 is for small business. It is this Liberal government that has an agreement with the banks and credit card companies to reduce credit card transaction fees for small businesses, resulting in over $1 billion in savings.

Carbon Pricing  Unlike the government, the men and women behind these businesses are in direct contact with Canadians and know how to run a company. Lo and behold, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business consulted over 4,300 business leaders, and the result is a scathing indictment of this government: 61% of Canadian business leaders are opposed to the carbon tax increase this Saturday.

Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act  Speaker, on a completely different note, after that nice moment courtesy of my colleague from Alberta, I want to go back to the study I cited during question period. The study is from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, and it is called “Fueling Unfairness: Carbon Pricing and Small Businesses”. I seek unanimous consent of the House to table it.

Business of Supply  The over 18,000 small businesses that exist in the city of Vaughan have no greater champion than I, as their member of Parliament for the last seven years and before then. My relationship with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Restaurants Canada and all those stakeholders that the member mentioned is second to none. I have been a vocal champion for them. I have one of the largest wineries and winery operators in my riding.

Carbon Pricing  Speaker, the Prime Minister's carbon tax costs families more than they get back in rebates in every single province it applies in, according to his own Parliamentary Budget Officer. Now we learn from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business that “Despite collecting billions in carbon tax revenues, the federal government has returned less than 1% of the promised proceeds to small businesses”. This job-killing tax is driving up the costs on small local businesses that support communities right across the country.

Human Resources committee  He appeared at a Senate committee and had quite a few things to say about your leadership and the department you're responsible for. We've heard a lot about that today in this committee. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has awarded it's 2023 Paperweight Award for the worst red tape to Service Canada's passport mess. The Parliamentary Budget Officer said things such as the following: “I think if you ask anybody who has recently applied for a passport...Old Age Security and the list goes on, they are probably very well aware that the level of service Canadians are getting is not what one would expect from a world-class public service.”

Business of Supply  Now they are telling us that they are not getting by anymore”. Let us talk now about businesses. The results of a recent study by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business were released this week. According to that study, 73% of Quebec's small businesses, about three-quarters, said that they will have to raise their prices to deal with inflation.

Agriculture committee  If I understand correctly, 20% of your members are asking for an extension, but 80% of your members were able to honour their commitments with the government. Two or three years ago, when this measure brought in, both the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Restaurants Canada were of the opinion that the 2023 deadline was reasonable and that business owners would be able to pay back $10,000 on a $40,000 loan or $20,000 on a l$60,000 loan.