Nova Scotia Legislature set to resume with calls for small business tax cuts and economic action

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

With the Nova Scotia Legislature set to resume its work Friday, an organization is calling for the government to follow through on its promise to cut the small business tax rate.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says 77 percent of its members in Nova Scotia want to see the small business tax rate reduced.

“During the 2024 election, we saw all-party support for reducing the small business tax rate, signaling a clear need to improve our province’s tax environment. Facing sustained high costs and economic uncertainty surrounding tariffs, government must follow through on promised tax cuts for small businesses in Budget 2025-2026,” said Duncan Robertson, Director of Legislative Affairs for Nova Scotia at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

On Wednesday, the Opposition New Democrats laid out plans for the new sitting of the Legislature, calling for a longer sitting to deal with issues including the U.S. tariff threat. The previous sitting in September only lasted 10 days

“With increased unbudgeted spending, decreased accountability, and serious economic threats on the horizon, the choices we make now will shape the future of Nova Scotia,” said NSNDP Leader Claudia Chender. “We need a government that is proactive, not reactive. Let’s focus on bolstering our local economies, protecting workers and diversifying the industries that sustain our communities.”

The Provincial Liberal Party, reduced to just two members after the PC’s landslide victory, will be holding a news conference today on their priorities for the sitting.

The session will begin tomorrow with a speech from the throne.