Thierry Vadnais-Lapierre

CFIB supports the principle behind the Canada Jobs Grant but encourages flexibility in its implementation and consideration of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs)' needs. For example, introducing a permanent refundable tax credits for co-op and internship hires and reducing red tape from programs like Canada Summer Jobs to make it easier for small businesses to continue hiring youth. Advocating on behalf of small and medium-sized businesses to facilitate trade between Canada and other countries (CAN-US tariffs, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, Chinese tariffs). Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) shares its suggestions for Budget 2026 focusing on: reducing the small business tax rate from 9% to 6% and increasing the small business deduction (SBD) threshold to $700,000 and index it to inflation going forward. Canada is experiencing an “entrepreneurial drought”: a sustained period where business closures consistently outpace new business starts, leading to a shrinking entrepreneurial base and declining confidence in entrepreneurship. CFIB recommends that reversing this trend should be treated as a national economic priority. Sharing small businesses' views on Labour Code changes, impact on small businesses and the need to ensure the fluidity of the supply chain. Sharing survey results on improving CFIA customer service to encourage the review of their operations to better meet the needs of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) - reducing red tape and facilitating food mobility within Canada. Sharing data information and recommendations related to the state of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) overall and for specific sectors which could also include provincial data. Promoting reforms to the Competition Act that will ensure small businesses have an equitable opportunity to compete in today’s economy, especially as small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) have noted an increase in large corporate giants within Canada. Shipping costs pose a significant barrier for small business, as such we continue to advocate for favourable shipping rates with carriers (including the cost of shipping along with better service levels and addressing the work stoppage at Canada Post). Presenting the views of small business owners based on our survey data to the Canada Revenue Agency to share ways of improving customer service interactions with small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and suggest ways to ease the tax burden on small business owners as well as increase accountability within the agency. CFIB continues to monitor the effects of the Consumer Product Safety Act on small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and other issues raised related to the mandate of Health Canada. We also continue to monitor customer service interactions between our members and Health Canada. Any issues are raised with officials. CFIB advocates for simplification to the federal procurement process on behalf of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). Lobbying to reduce Red Tape by focusing on removing interprovincial trade barriers, facilitating labour mobility and improving government customer service. This includes providing input for the consultations on the Annual Regulatory Modernization Bill. Goods and Services Tax/ Harmonized Sales Tax Administration with regards to Transitional Rules, Out of Province Sales Rules, Point-of-Sale Rebate, and fillings. Retirement Income Policies, and proposed Canada Pension Plan increases. CFIB is against mandatory increases in Canada Pension Plan, and has provided alternative approaches. CFIB has also shared recommendations to reduce disincentives to work for older workers. Presenting the views of small business owners on infrastructure spending through member survey results, mandate votes and other CFIB research. Offering funding solutions and alternatives to government proposals on transit and infrastructure expansion. Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

Seeking enhanced access to veterinary medications. Discussions with government officials concerning veterinary medicine as it relates to workforce shortages and mental health of veterinarians.

Ensuring federal funding for programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Enhance regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, such as developing a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. Canada's federal budget with regards to removing all subsidies to the oil, coal and gas industry, including subsidies provided through preferential tax treatments; development of renewable energy and fossil fuels, conservation and efficiency

Establishing a Federal Co-operative Investment Plan, inspired by the one in Quebec. Educating Parliamentarians, staffers and public servants on the co-operative model, the advantages and challenges faced by co-ops. Lack of awareness causes oversight and issues in programs and policies, when co-operatives should have access to the Business support and other programs offered by, or supported by, the government. Ensuring increased support to co-operatives and social enterprises, as underserved business models, by the BDC. As per the recent Legislative Review, co-operatives are significantly underserved by the BDC. Carbon Rebate for Small Business - Ensuring that co-operatives and credit unions are qualify, as they are currently excluded. Discuss the pro-active inclusion of co-operatives and social enterprises, in the procurement process. CMC would like co-operatives to be both eligible and prioritized in government procurement programs. Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy. Advocating for renewal of commitments related to the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy, such as the Investment Readiness Program and SISF-related funding for co-operatives. Promoting Business Conversions to Co-operatives as a means of safeguarding jobs and economic drivers in communities Harmonizing tax rules and incentives related to Employee-Ownership Trusts, to ensure that business succession (conversions) to employee-owned worker co-operatives are eligible. To review and propose possible changes to the Canadian Co-operative Act To promote the renewal of the Tax-deferred Co-operative Share Program to help agricultural co-operatives meet their capitalization needs and remain a viable option for agribusinesses while allowing Canadian co-operatives to be stronger in the face of international competitors. To expand the definitions and exemption criteria so that all qualifying co-operatives can remain eligible for the Small Business Deduction (SBD). Support or investment in the Canadian Co-operative Investment Fund which provides patient capital and lending to finance the capitalization of new and emerging co-operatives. The fund exists and was set up with $25 million from the co-operative sector. Review and propose changes to the Income Tax Act, in terms of the treatment of Indivisible Reserves in co-operatives. Amounts earmarked for Indivisible resserves cannot return to members and as such those amounts are thus outside the governments' definition of "for-profit", Investments in co-operative-led programs to provide bridges to employment, support entrepreneurship, safeguard local businesses, create jobs and make life more affordable for Canadians, in particular women, newcomers, Indigenous people, youth, and Canadians living in rural communities. Establishing a Canadian Co-operative Capacity Building Program (CCBP) equipped with federal funding to help co-operatives either start up, scale up, gain skills and expertise, and or prepare for their next steps.

Priorities for the next Agricultural Policy Framework, including resilience and stewardship as ways to drive on-farm profitability and support a thriving agricultural sector. Innovative government and private sector approaches to de-risking the adoption of new agricultural practices, including BMP/crop insurance pilots that provinces are rolling out as part of the current Agricultural Policy Framework. Government support for on-farm resilience in agriculture Government support for on-farm climate resilience as it relates to the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy (SAS). Government support for on-farm climate resilience related to pre-budget 2025 recommendations. Government support for environmental and climate action in Canadian agriculture, including the Agricultural Policy Framework and the On-Farm Climate Action Fund.

Ag Labour - Provide agricultural operations with the eligibility to apply for the Class 1A licensing for their employees through a grant funding program. Provide grants for employment training opportunities or programs to assist in gaining skills prior to busy times in the ag industry. Ag Labour- Focus on timeliness and efficiency of immigration applications and reduce barriers so employers can access readily available employees. Federal government to constantly evaluate its processes and the requirements for newcomers to get proper permits to enter the Canadian workforce. Water treatment systems; alternative water treatment technologies continue to be explored and, where feasible, applicable regulations and guidelines be updated to allow for the most efficient use of those technologies. Vaccine Development: resulting from the COVID-19, SARM would like to see vaccine development in SK and throughout the Country - SARM supports VIDO's initiatives Transportation policy and regulation with regard to grain, grain products and products for agriculture generally. Trade Agreements; including Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) and United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), our request is to better international trade for agriculture producers. The Rural Municipal (RM) Tax Loss Compensation Trust Fund tied to Treaty Land Entitlement agreements continues to decrease and appears to be unsustainable without municipalities absorbing significant reduction in monies from the fund. The agreements need to be updated. The Canada Infrastructure Bank - Irrigation infrastructure for agriculture in Saskatchewan. Need a joint infrastructure agreement with Saskatchewan. Species at Risk Act (SARA); mitigating negative effects of SARA. Rural Healthcare & Recruitment - funding for increase recruitment and retention of healthcare workers in remote rural areas of Saskatchewan Rural Crime; in regard to a provincial police force RCMP presence in rural Saskatchewan. Preventing rural crime. RCMP – given the economic increase/market adjustments in the collective agreement, pay increases total more than 23 per cent over the six years, retroactive to 2017 & SARM is calling on the federal government to fully absorb all retroactive pay increases that the federal government negotiated RCMP costs - related costs coupled with rising policing costs overall could result in significant financial burdens for municipalities Railway/supply chain concerns especially around being able to move the crop from harvest to ports. Declare railway as essential service. Rail Safety; Transporting dangerous goods by rail. Grade crossing improvements. Provide comments on the need for improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. Pipeline: The pipeline as a greener alternative to shipping oil and gas and the positive effect on Saskatchewan Pesticide regulations: strongly support maintaining a science based and evidence based approach to pesticide management. The regulation of pesticides needs to consider the importance of food security. Navigation Protection Act; placed administrative and financial burdens on municipal infrastructure projects. National Disaster Mitigation Program; to ensure mitigation projects and strategically and effectively undertaken. Mutual aid agreements; formalizing mutual aid agreements is important because RMs need assurance that they will be reimbursed for providing emergency services to neighbouring municipalities and First Nations. Municipal access to Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant. Liberal Fertilizer Reduction Plan Landownership- concerns over regulating out-of-province landownership in regards to land use and management in ways that interest the local community. Stricter regulations on land purchases. Justice and Law Enforcement with regard to amending acts and regulations in relation to firearms. International trade with respect to Canola exports Infrastructure funding programs for municipalities with regard to the need for cont

Engaging the federal government on policy, regulatory, and infrastructure initiatives related to the reliable and efficient movement of essential crop input products throughout Canada. This includes discussions on supply chain resiliency, transportation corridors, and trade-enabling infrastructure necessary to support domestic agriculture. Sensibiliser le gouvernement quant aux impacts financiers négatifs liés à l'imposition de tarifs par des partenaires commerciaux du Canada sur les produits de porc exportés. Création d'une dispense pour les travailleurs étrangers temporaires (TET) invités au Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ)ou en attente de Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ), dont le permis expire avant l’obtention du CSQ et travaillant dans un établissement dépassant 20 % de travailleurs étrangers, afin d'assurer la stabilité de la main-d’œuvre et la continuité des opérations. Reconnaissance par le gouvernement fédéral de l’expérience en emploi, sans diplôme, des travailleurs étrangers temporaires (TET) dans le cadre du Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) du Québec. Providing input to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on the regulatory oversight of fertilizer products, including policies related to product approvals, labelling requirements, and the transportation, storage and sale of fertilizer. Changes to the Fertilizers Act and regulations regarding the use, registration, or safety of fertilizer products. Obtenir du financement par l'entremise du Fonds stratégique pour l'innovation Obtenir du financement par l'entremise du Partenariat canadien pour une agriculture durable Modifier la Loi de l’impôt sur le revenu (LIR) pour assurer la pérennisation du programme de parts à imposition différée. Maintenir et ne pas aller en deçà du seuil de 20% pour la main-d'oeuvre pouvant provenir du Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires, volet des bas salaires, dans le secteur agroalimentaire, notamment pour la transformation des viandes, qui est un prolongement du secteur agricole. Inclure dans la « dispense à l’exigence de la limite des postes liés à l’agriculture primaire » les Classification nationale des professions (CNP) de manœuvres à la transformation alimentaire (9617) et les bouchers industriels (9462)

Recherche de financement pour renforcer les programmes de recherche dans les secteurs innovants et ayant le potentiel de positionner le Canada comme leader. Enjeux concernant les procédures reliées aux visas pour les étudiants et chercheurs étrangers. Discussions sur les possibilités de financement pour les projets futurs d'infrastructures et d'entretien des infrastructures de l'Université de Montréal. Discussions sur les possibilités de financement pour le développement des écoles, instituts et centres de recherche de l'Université de Montréal. Discussions sur le financement des organismes subventionnaires ainsi que sur les coûts indirects de la recherche. Discussions concernant le processus d'admission pour les programmes de stages offerts aux étudiants de l'Université au sein de la fonction publique. Discussions concernant le financement des programmes de recherche et d'innovation afin d'augmenter les capacités à ce niveau. Budget fédéral annuel en ce qui concerne le support du gouvernement fédéral pour l'éducation post-secondaire et la recherche.