Small business is the beating heart of our municipality’s economy and vibrancy. Our entrepreneurs need a partner to help them grow and thrive.
My plan would...
Eliminate patio application fees for small businesses. Our local patios are where we gather on a nice day, enjoy the weather, and connect with our friends and neighbours. HRM is charging patio fees higher than the national average and it is costing our business both time and money in submitting these applications. Let’s cut this red tape and support our small businesses by saving them a thousand dollars a year.
Review commercial tax rates to make sure they are competitive, fair, and efficient. Our commercial tax system is complicated with many different rates applied and we need to ensure that we’re as streamlined as possible.
HRM will work closely with our business community to reduce barriers to their success. Your success is our success as a municipality. To that end, I’ll be creating a Mayor’s Red Tape Reduction Task Force to hear from you directly on how we can make it easier for you to do business, create jobs, and grow our local economy. As Mayor, I will put my full weight behind making sure HRM is a partner and not a roadblock to your growth.
