November 20, 2025
RED FM News Desk
Business confidence in B.C. is mixed in the lead-up to the holiday season, according to the latest Business Barometer by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), with hiring intentions remaining negative.
While British Columbia saw gains in long-term optimism, rising back to 51.2 points, this remains well below its historic average. Short-term confidence for the next three to four months saw a sharp 11-point plunge, marking the steepest decline of any Canadian province.
Ryan Mitton, CFIB’s B.C. Director of Legislative Affairs, said “While small businesses may be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, they are facing a crunch this holiday season. With a trade war, a sluggish economy, and little fiscal relief on the horizon, many are hoping holiday shoppers will choose to shop local in the weeks ahead.”
Hiring plans remained negative in November, meaning more businesses plan to reduce employment than increase it. This marks nearly a full year of negative full-time staffing plans in B.C., with all months from January to November 2025 showing negative results.
Mitton added that “low demand, high taxes, and red tape continue to be the top pain points reported by B.C. businesses.” He urged consumers to support struggling employers:
“This holiday season, shopping local and choosing Canadian-owned businesses or franchises will provide much-needed relief for struggling employers.”
The CFIB’s recent Main Street Quarterly reiterates that buy local and buy Canadian campaigns can boost sales and support trade resilience. Previous CFIB research shows that 66 cents of every dollar spent locally stays within the local provincial economy, compared to just 11 cents at a large store.
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