Patios along Water Street in downtown St. John’s have become an important summer attraction in recent years, but the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the permitting costs to get one are the highest in the country.
Duncan Robertson, a policy analyst with the CFIB, says they recently looked at patio permit costs through a national lens.
In some major cities, such as Saskatoon and Winnipeg, it is free. But, he explains that St. John’s is the most expensive major city in all of Canada at a cost of $2,765.
Robertson calls that a “significant cost” especially for small businesses that aren’t as financially certain.
He says they want to see the situation addressed. He suggests a similar system to what’s on Moncton, New Brunswick. There, he says instead of a complex system of fees they have a flat rate for businesses—which they believe has saved people money.