The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is raising concerns about the impact of today’s strike action by Alberta teachers and province-wide school closures on small businesses throughout the province.
“Small businesses are already grappling with economic uncertainty and staffing shortages. Today’s announcement further adds to their challenges,” said Kayode Southwood, CFIB’s Senior Policy Analyst for Alberta. “When employees are forced to stay home to care for children during work hours, productivity drops, and in many cases, so do sales.”
Experience in other provinces highlights the impact of such labour disruptions. When Saskatchewan’s teachers went on strike in 2024, one-third (33%) of small businesses reported a negative impact on their operations. Of the businesses impacted, 74 per cent said they experienced staffing challenges, while 24 per cent experienced lost sales and revenue, explained the CFIB.
According to CFIB’s Business Barometer®, Alberta small business confidence is below optimistic, with insufficient demand and a shortage of skilled labour cited as the greatest limitations to sales and growth.
“Further disruption is the last thing small businesses need right now”, added Southwood. “We urge the Alberta government to work toward a swift resolution to minimize harm to entrepreneurs, their employees, and the communities they serve.”
The CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members (10,000 in Alberta) across every industry and region.
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