The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses’ latest report is showing a significant decline in business optimism here in Manitoba.

The long-term confidence for the next year saw a huge 8-point decline to sit at 49.3 and now sits at the lowest of all the provinces.

Even the usually lucrative holiday season has challenges, according to Tyler Slobogian, Senior Policy Analyst for the CFIB.

“Manitoba small businesses are grappling with significant drops in consumer demand with nearly half identifying it as the primary bury to growth and as the holiday season approaches, rising wage cost and labour shortages intensified by recent policy changes added further strain.”

Slobogian says the federal government’s proposed reductions on immigration levels could further restrict access to essential workers, compounding the ongoing challenges posed by labour shortages.

Learn more about the obstacles being faced by small businesses. Catch Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.