Large Businesses - while Thunder Bay has traditionally benefited from the large employment from natural resources and transportation industries,  fluctuating commodity prices, high energy costs, and increasing global competition is forcing investments in automation, with a resulting decrease in the number of people now being employed in these industries.

Small Business - like in so many other parts of the country, small business is now providing the largest employment gains and quickly becoming the backbone of our economy. Unfortunately, most of the growth in small business ownership in Thunder Bay has occurred as a result of downsizing and restructuring at all levels of government and in the larger resource-based industries. 

This sector has the potential to transform our community by creating many needed jobs and helping develop a more reliant and diversified  economy. However, it still faces many difficulties and issues.  

Issues: 

• High commercial taxes - Thunder Bay commercial tax rates are at the top 1/3 of similar-size cities in the province. 
  
• High multi-residential tax rates - If you own multi-residential, you are paying 20% above the provincial average. When combined with high vacancy rates and decreasing housing and apartment values, it is no wonder building construction is down (housing starts have picked up slightly in recent years, but are still projected to be half or our historical average of 400 homes per year)  
• Business taxes - Have been eliminated and the onus shifted to the property owner. If you are a downtown core merchant, you are being hit twice by declining property values and higher taxes.
• Red tape and bureaucracy -  While many improvements have been made,  it still takes too long to get a building permit (mostly as a result of the requirements of the building and planning act), especially when we take into account our short building season. The process can be streamlined through proactive meetings with developers and builders to ensure that our respective roles and ability to work together is enhanced. 
  
• Financial accountability - or value for your tax dollars is becoming even more important in light of a stagnant economy and shrinking tax base (see article on youth out-migration).
  
• Need for a Pro-business attitude - while many municipal agencies such as Tourism Thunder Bay and Development Thunder Bay strive to encourage development and growth, they are limited in their ability to do so by the lack of a coherent vision from the top. 

Thunder Bay can attract investments from outside and from within our own community, but in order to do so we must ensure that when we say we are "open for business" we really mean it.

The small business sector needs a receptive, capable, and helpful Mayor and Council in order to grow and prosper. Our future as a viable community depends on it. As Councillor at Large and with the support of the Mayor and the rest of Council, we can implement the "Awaken the Giant"  action plan that will address the above issues and help revitalize Thunder Bay by bringing back its vitality, pride and prosperity.

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