The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says local businesses have still been climbing an uphill battle.

Atlantic vice-president Louis-Philippe Gauthier believes the ongoing issues from COVID and inflation have been the key factors seeing establishments go under.

“We still have many businesses that either through depth, through the difficulties in finding labourers, all the increasing cost, the pressure up upscaling cost to costumers,” said Gauthier.

“Let’s just say over the next 12 months, business owners won’t be seeing things through rose-coloured glasses.”

The CFIB provides support for small businesses to change the laws and policies that will affect a business.

The organization has provided business and political support to over 97,000 local stores nationwide.