Small business confidence is undergoing a shaky recovery following the blow it took earlier this year, when unpredictable U.S. tariffs shocked many businesses.

In March, small business confidence in B.C. reached its lowest point in 25 years, as measured by the Monthly Business Barometer from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). That’s lower than levels seen after 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, or the COVID-19 pandemic. But this pessimism speaks to more than just trade troubles—it reveals homegrown challenges that have been holding back entrepreneurs for years.

Small businesses still face uncertainty as President Donald Trump’s mercurial trade policies shift the ground under their feet. According to CFIB’s survey of small business owners, more than a third of B.C. businesses report a decrease in overall revenue since the start of the trade war. Forty-one per cent report reduced profits.

Thankfully, Canada has seen a slight recovery in business confidence since March. But unlike other provinces, B.C.’s business climate has proven volatile. Business Barometer data for July revealed that B.C.’s long-term........

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