Coaldale Chamber welcomes the CFIB at monthly lunch meeting

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

Members of the Coaldale Chamber of Commerce welcomed CFIB Lethbridge East District Manager, Ross Lamb to their monthly lunch meeting on May 21. 

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is a national organization that advocates for small businesses across Canada. It is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with just over 100,000 members across the country and 10,000 members in Alberta. They advocate on issues including the carbon tax, agriculture, capital gains, red tape and tariffs. 

Lamb spoke about how the CFIB supports small and medium-sized businesses through advocacy, business resources and cost-saving programs. He also highlighted some key policy wins for small and medium-sized businesses in Canada, that include lower small business tax rates, reduced credit card fees, and carbon tax rebates. 

He noted the CFIB’s early beginnings, which began more than 50 years ago. 

“Back in 1969 the government was looking to increase small business tax to 50 per cent. Our founder, John Bulloch, a professor at Ryerson University had a small business on the side …. (and) decided he would try and organize business owners to fight that proposed tax increase,” said Lamb. “He was successful in organizing against that proposed tax increase and founded CFIB in 1971.”

Lamb shared some of the successes they’ve had as an organization since then. 

“We’ve had success in presenting that small business tax rate, so that’s the first $500,000 in income that any small business earns,” he said, pointing out success at both federal and provincial levels. “That means small business owners are taxed at 11 per cent on the first $500,000 of income based on our lobbying and advocacy work that we do,” explained Lamb.

In addition, Lamb shared how the CFIB can help small businesses in areas such as human resources, health and safety and legal advice. 

“A lot of business owners really find it challenging to stay current with a lot of the changing regulations, especially if you’re a small business, you don’t have the same resources as large organizations,” he said, noting the CFIB is recognized as the number one lobby group in Canada, for small business and is ranked in the top 25 lobby groups in all of Canada. 

Lamb highlighted three key points to effective lobbying, which include access to politicians, access to the media and members signing petitions, and pointed out some advocacy victories the organization has had over the years including recent victories in 2024-2025. They include carbon tax rebates for small businesses, credit card reduction, capital gains inclusion rate remaining at 50 per cent and eight per cent Alberta provincial tax bracket. 

Another part of the organization’s work includes conducting surveys among CFIB members. 

“Those survey results really help us and our lobbying and legislative teams direct their efforts to make sure that we are going after the issues that are important to our members,” said Lamb.