About CFIB

CFIB has been a big voice for small business for over 35 years with over 105,000 members in every sector across Canada. Taking our direction from our members, through regular surveys, we lobby for small- and medium-sized businesses at the federal, provincial and local levels of government.

Who we are
We represent independent businesses in all regions of Canada. Our members include the full range of enterprise in Canada, from one-person home-based businesses to firms employing hundreds of people. CFIB is the largest organization of its kind in Canada and generally has more members in any given industry than most sectoral organizations.

CFIB is recognized around the world for the quality of our research and economic analysis. Our solid reputation for accuracy and insight means we are taken very seriously.

Who we represent
Any Canadian-owned independent business is welcome to join CFIB. Our members are owner-operated and do not trade on the stock markets.

Membership dues are calculated on a sliding scale that has a firm upper limit, so that no one business can gain influence over the organization. We never accept funding from governments, large corporations or other sources.

Each of our offices across the country has a Member Services Department staffed with highly knowledgeable counsellors who provide answers and troubleshooting on issues affecting small business.

We also offer specific initiatives to help members save money, become more competitive and grow their businesses. These include reduced-fee programs with affiliated partners for merchant credit cards, banking, phone and other services.

What we fight for
CFIB was formed in 1971 as an advocacy organization for small- and medium-sized enterprises. We are determined to strengthen the democratic system, promote free enterprise, and prevent abuse of power by government agencies, public service monopolies, corporate giants and trade unions. Our actions in the areas of tax, labour laws and public sector spending have brought real dollars-and-cents benefits to our members, helping them prosper.

We have achieved huge victories, resulting in changes that affect every firm in the country. But, no problem is too small. Everyday we help individual members by providing free expert advice and support in dealing with bureaucrats, government agencies and banks. If you have a problem, we can help.

Federal Victories
Through the years, some of our greatest national achievements have included:

• After a sustained CFIB campaign, the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption was increased to $750,000 in 2007. This was the first increase since CFIB succeeded in having the measure introduced in 1985.
• By pushing for reductions in red tape - consistently one of our members' top three concerns - CFIB got a commitment from the federal government to reduce paper burden by 20 per cent in the 2006 federal budget.
• A relentless 12-year campaign improved Employment Insurance fairness by highlighting the growing surplus and insisting premiums be brought into line with program costs. EI premiums have been reduced every year since 1994.
• The proposed mergers of four of Canada's chartered banks were defeated in 1998, largely due to CFIB and small business opposition.
• CFIB convinced government to introduce a special federal small business corporate tax rate in 1982. Originally 12 per cent for the first $200,000 of corporate income, the rate is dropping and the threshold has increased, as CFIB fought to improve the measure.