The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is calling on Chambers of Commerce across Canada to stand up and oppose proposed changes to taxes to agriculture and small corporations.
High River Chamber President Steven Muth says it's a bad deal for businesses, particularly those who employ family members and must now define that they are making a "meaningful contribution" to the business in order to share income with family members.
"That's the most disconcerting thing from my point of view, is when the government switches that burden of proof and they get to feel they get to dictate how things should run from a structure and who gets to work or get paid from a business," Muth says."That's the real scary part."
Thirty five business groups including many in the Ag sector, along with others in professional services have already submitted a letter to Finance Minister Bill Morneau to quash the proposed changes.
Those groups are:
Advocis – Financial Advisors Association of Canada
Canadian Association of Farm Advisors
Canadian Association of Management Consultants
Canadian Association of Optometrists
Canadian Association of Radiologists
Canadian Bar Association
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Construction Association
Canadian Dental Association
Canadian Federation of Agriculture
Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Canadian Home Builders’ Association
Canadian Horticultural Council
Canadian Institute of Financial Planners
Canadian Institute of Heating and Plumbing
Canadian Medical Association
Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association
Canadian Pork Council
Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Canadian Water Quality Association
Coalition of Ontario Doctors
Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting
Family Enterprise Xchange
Federation of Ontario Law Associations
Grain Farmers of Ontario
Grain Growers of Canada
Independent Financial Brokers of Canada
Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada
National Exempt Market Association
Ontario Association of Radiologists
Ontario Medical Association
Restaurants Canada
Retail Council of Canada
Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance