Finance committee  Certainly we are facing demographic and economic challenges here. Your colleague MP Alaina Lockhartis very supportive of the Atlantic immigration strategy, which will see more people coming to our region. With that and with programs like our succession connect program, we hope to

Finance committee  I certainly think if ACOA is suggesting that there's no opportunity to provide ACOA funding here in our region, they're mistaken. I think there are lots of opportunities. I sit on a board that provides seed loans to small businesses that are just getting started, and these are ba

Finance committee  It's not just each individual tax that's an issue; it is the overall tax burden. It's what you are talking about: CPP, on top of EI, on top of—here in New Brunswick—WorkSafe, increased minimum wage, personal taxation, corporate tax, small business tax—

Finance committee  Exactly. That's a new one that's coming. It's just that overall burden. We are not only trying to support the businesses that are here already. How can we encourage other businesses to come and set up in our jurisdictions when this is the case—when it seems as if it is not a lev

Finance committee  This would allow more businesses to take advantage of the small business investor tax credit. Mr. Fudge has mentioned that the amounts and the regulations related to the SBITC have increased certainly, but the uptake hasn't been as great as we would hope. If it could be federally

Finance committee  Certainly anything that can help businesses be more competitive is welcome and yes, we would hope that would happen in the next budget. Our businesses cannot continue to operate at a higher tax threshold than they're paying in other jurisdictions. Here in New Brunswick, we're fin

Finance committee  It's challenging for business to be innovative and to grow in an environment that is not conducive to that. One of the challenges we face and that I mentioned is the overall tax burden and the complication of the tax system. In addition to what's happening federally, we've just

Finance committee  We have an active and vibrant start-up community, as has been mentioned, and a lot is in the IT sector. It is recognized that there is not enough angel investor, not enough venture capital, and there is difficulty accessing loans, particularly for some projects that are intellect

Finance committee  Good morning, and thanks so much for including the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce in this process. I would like to welcome all of you here. I know that probably many of you have visited Fredericton before and that Mr. MacKinnon lived here many years ago. Thanks for visiting ou