Banff - Airdrie Conservative MP Blake Richards says what may, or may not, be in the upcoming Federal Budget is making small business owners in his riding very nervous.

Richards will hold pre-budget consultations to find out what people in his riding would like to see in the budget near the end of January.  However, what he's been hearing so far is that people are nervous about what could remain in the budget of the small business tax changes that the Liberals had previously proposed.

Richards says despite the government revising their plans on the proposed changes, there is still a chance that some of them might survive in some form in the budget.  He says Canadians need to be aware of this and ensure they voice their opinions on how small businesses are taxed.

"The conversations I've had over the last few months with people are telling me that there's a sense of uncertainty, and uncertainty is sometimes worse than the most negative outcome.  You don't know what this means.  How can you plan for even the 2018 tax year when we don't know what your tax situation looks let alone going forward to plan for the future of your business."

Richards says there is plenty of anxiety from small businesses he's talked with.

"This makes this incredibly difficult, and that's really the sentiment I've heard from people is this uncertainty and it's got people quite nervous, and rightfully so."

Richards will hold his budget consultations at three communities in the constituency.

In Airdrie, on Friday, January 26th from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the Echo Room at Genesis Place, on January 27th at the Miner's Union Hall in Canmore from 9:30 am to 11:00 am and in Cochrane the same day from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm in the Cochrane Toyota Community Room. 

The government is also asking for online feedback on the budget here.

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