The Canadian Federation of Independent Business of is calling on the federal government to avoid deficits, decrease spending and avoid expensive bailout packages in the upcoming budget.

Catherine Swift, president of the CFIB, will appear at a pre-budget consultation roundtable in Thornhill, Ont. with federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on Friday, January 9, to present the federation’s priorities for the 2009 budget on behalf of its 105,000 members.

Swift said the small business sector is a fundamental player in contributing to this country’s economic recovery and as such, this is the time for the federal government to give it a much needed boost in its upcoming budget scheduled for January 27.

The CFIB is also calling on Ottawa to:

> overhaul Employment Insurance (EI);

> develop a long-term personal income tax cut plan, and;

> focus on wide-ranging economic policy for small- and medium-sized businesses, such as finding ways of easing succession for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Swift said implementing CFIB’s recommendations will among other things, further job creation and allow businesses to use savings from tax and regulatory reductions to invest back into their enterprises.

IE