Businesses weigh in on government’s plan to reduce credit card fees
The federal government is touting plans to help small businesses by reducing credit card fees, but some local merchants say while they welcome the measure, the actual impact it will have on their operations will be minimal.
The 2023 budget, released Tuesday, confirms a deal to lower the credit card fees paid by small businesses by up to 27 per cent.
David Worsley, co-owner of Words Worth Books in Uptown Waterloo, is no stranger to the fees associated with credit cards. (CTV Kitchener/Spencer Turcotte)
“No small business is going to say no to a few extra nickels,” said David Worsley, co-owner of Words Worth Books in Uptown Waterloo.
He says cash sales at his store are rare, and credit cards are involved in a significant chunk of transactions.
He’s no stranger to credit card fees and welcomes the move by the federal government to reduce them.
“But it's low-hanging fruit. It's not really a game changer.”
Worsley says ultimately, credit card fees are low on the list of things that keep him awake at night.
“Some quick back of the envelope math suggests it might pay for an invoice here or there. Of course it will. But will it change the game? Will it allow any prospective small business owner to say 'OK great, now I can do X.' Not really,” Worsley said.
He says tax relief is what small businesses truly need.
CFIB APPLAUDS MOVE
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says lower credit card fees could help with COVID-19 recovery efforts and is significant considering Canada has some of the highest fees to accept credit cards in the world.
“Reducing fees to accept credit card payments will help businesses deal with the increased cost of doing business,” said Jasmin Guenette, vice-president of National Affairs with CFIB.
“If a small business can save up to $1,000 a year in credit card fees -- that's money they can reinvest in their business.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Security Council plans to vote on UN membership for Palestine
The UN Security Council is set to vote Thursday on a resolution that would allow the state of Palestine to join the United Nations as a full member, a step the United States opposes and will veto if necessary.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.