Small business protest draws hundreds opposing tax changes

Hundreds of business owners and employees took to downtown Saskatoon over lunch hour Thursday to protest proposed corporate tax changes.

The North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) organized the hour-long rally, handing out signs with a variety of slogans including “no fairness for small business.”

Examples of the anti-tax change signs at NSBA rally. #yxe pic.twitter.com/68ioDlsUK9

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) September 21, 2017

Several business owners said it was their first time protesting.

“They never thought they would have that occasion in their life, but that’s what it’s come down to,” said Spencer Early, owner of Early’s Farm and Garden.

Spencer Early was one of the business owners participating in a protest against proposed tax changes on Sept. 21, 2017. (Chris Vandenbreekel/650 CKOM)

The Liberal tax changes would target a practice known as income sprinkling, which allows a business owner to spread income across family members to lower their tax burden, even if those family members aren’t employed by the business.

Other proposals would limit the ability for corporations to convert profits into capital gains, which are taxed at a lower rate than salaries, and to hold business income in passive investments.

Early said the changes could force him to sell his business, one that’s been in his family for 110 years.

“If they want to do this kind of stuff and make it difficult to be in business then we’ll just fold up our tent and go live somewhere else,” he said.

Protesters gathered at the Saskatoon Funeral Home at the corner of Fourth Avenue and 25th Street around noon. Food trucks were set up in the parking lot while picket signs were handed out.

Speakers, including former Saskatoon Blades owner Jack Brodsky, told the crowd the proposed tax changes would kill small business.

“I thought we wanted to encourage entrepreneurship,” he said. “(The Liberal government) needs to listen and reconsider what they’re doing.”

The group then marched a block over to the Canada Revenue Agency building on Third Avenue, with strict instructions to allow employees to enter and exit the building.

“It’ll be the most civilized and polite protest,” NSBA executive director Keith Moen told the crowd.

The crowd marched back and forth in front of the government building, chanting “Trudeau, Morneau, tax changes no-go.”

Chanting now. "Trudeau-Morneau tax changes no-go." #yxe pic.twitter.com/B4uWfWQeVw

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) September 21, 2017

Moen said it was an unusual situation for business owners.

“It’s unfamiliar territory,” he said of protesting. “We were looking around asking, ‘How do you do this? What do we do?'”

Since business leaders don’t often participate in street protests, Moen said he hopes the demonstration will have a bigger impact.

“This is a very extraordinary measure we took,” he said. “We’re emphasizing they need to listen more than they already are.”

By 1 p.m., all the protesters had left the area, many returning to their businesses.