Nearly a quarter of businesses say they have already been negatively affected by the ongoing rail blockades, while another 48 per cent expect they will feel the impacts soon, according to preliminary data from a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released Feb. 25.

Businesses affected by the blockades say they have lost an average of $60,000 since the protests began and sixty-two per cent of small businesses say they are very worried about the impacts of the blockades on their business. Ninety per cent of business owners agree the federal government should prioritize working with the provinces and law enforcement agencies for rail services to continue.

Small businesses say they depend on rail services to get their products to market and to receive supplies. Their resources and cash resources are limited for getting through long periods of interrupted services. "Many business owners across the country are telling us they have already had to suspend operations, lay off staff or ration supplies,” says CFIB president Dan Kelly.

The risks of inaction are significant

“Many are in danger of losing important contracts to other international competitors and they worry about how this will hurt their reputation with clients going forward. While there are no easy answers to this complex issue, the risks of inaction are significant too."

All provinces report significant negative impacts. The four western provinces’ small businesses have been affected most by the blockades, followed by Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. All sectors have been affected, particularly agriculture, wholesale, natural resources, transportation and manufacturing. Twenty-three per cent of retailers say they have been affected by the blockades.

The impact on small businesses and Canada’s economy as a whole could have consequences “that extend well beyond the blockades,” warns Laura Jones, CFIB's executive vice-president. "In addition to being concerned about their own reputation, 90 per cent of business owners are telling us they worry about how the blockades will affect investor confidence in Canada."

"Ultimately, Canada needs a clear path forward to balance economic development, environmental policy and Indigenous land rights to avoid repeating this situation and restore investor confidence," says Kelly.