7 |Friday December 15, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER |www.insidehalton.com Patchwork tax policies could hurt sm all business: Cham ber uch has happened since the federal government' s unveiling of its proposed tax measures in July. Together, communities across Canada, includ ing Oakville, stood by our business owners and voiced our opposition to the government' s plan to make the most radical tax changes in 50 years. The voice of business was heard as the groundswell of opposition grew across the coun try leading the government to rethink some of its proposed policies. On October 16, Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced the federal government' s re sponse to the outcry from business. Although we are supportive of some changes the government has proposed, we remain con cerned about the potential negative impacts this patchwork of tax policies will have on small business investment growth and economic pros- M Faye Lyons Vice-president Government Relations & Advocacy Oakville Chamber of Commerce perity. For example, the Chamber welcomed the move to reduce the Small Business Corporate Tax Rate and we also believe that retaining cur rent Capital Gains exemptions and conversion rules is good news. However, the small busi ness rate reduction in conjunction with the tax increase on ordinary dividends could result in an overall tax increase for some small business owners. An area of great concern to Oakville Chamber members is the revision of the tax treatment of "passive" income. Businesses need to save in or der to weather economic downturns. They also need to accumulate capital to reinvest money back into their business for equipment, technol ogy and facilities. This contributes to both the benefit of employees and the economy. We be lieve that the limit government is imposing on passive income will penalize businesses and limit their ability to prosper and grow. To that end, we firmly believe that the gov ernment should not proceed with its passive income rules until a full economic impact assess ment has been carried out and an approach has been developed that can ensure there will be no unintended negative consequences to business investment. In light of the mounting regulatory burden imposed by all levels of government including increased payroll taxes and the proposed carbon taxes, we are concerned about businesses capa bility to remain competitive. The government needs to undertake a comprehensive review of the tax system with a view toward fairness and simplification for all taxpayers and increasing Canada' s competitiveness. Our Chamber is proud to be working with the Canadian Chamber on these important issues and will continue to work together to advocate for a tax system that is fair and competitive for all Oakville businesses. -- Faye Lyons, Vice President o f Government Relations & Advocacy, Oakville Chamber o f Com merce Check with your favourite charity for ways to help out over the holidays continued from p.6 its annual Christmas Food Drive, which runs to Friday, Dec. 22. Volunteers are needed to help in the warehouse, too. Contact 905-847-3988. Many of our community organizations brighten the holidays with gifts for the less fortu nate. One example is Kerr Street Ministries, with their Christmas Wonders and Beyond Program. They are seeking volunteers over age 18 to help with pyjama and toy distribution on Dec. 17 and 18. Email cwvolunteer@kerrstreet.com if you are available to help. The Oakville Salvation Army raises funds to help families and individuals in our community throughout the year. At this time, friendly and enthusiastic volunteers are needed to help with the Christmas Kettle campaign. If you have at least three hours to spare to help on this cam paign, phone 289-681-3197. These are just a few suggestions for ways to help over the holidays. Check with your favou rite charity for other opportunities to get in volved. Also consider giving blood to Canadian Blood Services, as there is an increased need for blood over the holidays. Find the nearest clinic and book an appointment at Go to blood.ca. In closing, I'd like to extend warm holiday wishes to all Oakvillians. Please stay safe and enjoy celebrating the holidays with your family and friends. Thank you to everyone who joined the festivities at my Holiday Open House on Dec. 10 -- it is always a pleasure to connect in person. The non-perishable food we collected will be appreciated by our local food banks. -- John Oliver is proud to represent the riding o f Oakville as its Member o f Parliament. 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