CFIB’s recent report, Hard Hats and Hard Times, found that Canadian small businesses lose an average of 22 per cent of their revenues during major public construction projects. Photo by Journal PIoneer /FileArticle contentThe Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling on the provincial government to add new requirements to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) that would protect small businesses from the impacts of public construction projects.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentFrédéric Gionet, CFIB’s director of legislative affairs for P.E.I., said the submission was timed with the province’s review of the MGA.Article contentArticle contentArticle content“We found it to be a perfect opportunity to maybe standardize some of the measures that some municipalities do and many don’t when it comes to construction and mitigation,” he said.Article contentConstruction challengesArticle contentGionet told The Guardian in an interview that while public infrastructure projects are important, they often leave small businesses facing steep revenue losses, limited access for customers and long-term uncertainty about whether they can survive until the work is done.Article contentThe submission, sent to the provincial government in May, recommends that construction mitigation requirements be standardized across municipalities, so businesses have clear expectations before projects begin.Article contentMeasures would include early consultation, detailed communication, traffic, parking plans and dedicated liaisons for large projects.Article contentArticle contentThe group also wants businesses to receive financial compensation in cases where there are huge financial losses.Article content“We’ve had several cities across Canada that have implemented some of these measures. Sometimes it could be tax rebates or potential property tax rebates, or it could be direct financial compensation,” he said.Article content“Especially for the major projects that can disrupt a series of business across an area for quite a period of time.”Article content Frédéric Gionet, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) director of legislative affairs for P.E.I., said the organization made a submission to the provincial government to add new requirements to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) that would protect small businesses from the impacts of public construction projects. ContributedArticle contentLost revenuesArticle contentCFIB’s recent report, Hard Hats and Hard Times, found that Canadian small businesses lose an average of 22 per cent of their revenues during major public construction projects, while also incurring about $10,000 in extra costs for cleaning and repairs.Article contentThe report showed nearly 70 per cent of businesses surveyed across the country reported experiencing construction-related disruptions in the past five years.
CFIB urges P.E.I. to add construction mitigation rules to Municipal Government Act
