First
it was medical doctors.
Then
it was tax advisors to small businesses.
Now
it’s farmers and full-blown opposition to Finance Minister Bill
Morneau’s proposals to eliminate some tax breaks to make things
more even between average wage-earning Canadians and relatively
wealthier business owners.
The
tax break reforms Morneau proposes include eliminating small-business
perks such as sharing income with family members, saving passive
investment income in a corporation and converting a corporation's
income into capital gains.
Dan
Kelly, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian
Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), told the Globe and Mail
that his organization is working around the clock to mobilize local
business owners to pressure their local MPs.
Several
weeks ago, STEP Canada, an association of trust and estate
professionals, held an all-day meeting in Toronto to develop the
framework for multiple submissions to the Department of Finance.
Among
the 70 attendees were representatives from the Canadian Federation of
Agriculture, the Canadian Bar Association, Canadian Life and Health
Insurance Association, Canadian Real Estate Association and the
Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.
Fiona
Cook, executive director of the Grain Growers of Canada, said the
organization is very concerned about the issue and will take some
time to do an economic impact analysis.
"We're
really going to push the government to back off of this for now and
work with us on what the problems are," she said.
"Obviously,
we're very concerned. This really hits the family farm and succession
planning, which is a big deal for farming in Canada. How do you pass
on to the next generation?"
The
Ontario Federation of Agriculture is mobilizing a lobbying push to
contact MPs to voice concerns before the early-October end to
Morneau’s period to accept comments.
