A group representing small businesses across B.C. says its members are rapidly losing optimism amid several overlapping challenges.

Kalith Nanayakkara, a senior policy analyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) for B.C., says although members have been vocal about how the BC General Employees’ Union strike is impacting their businesses, they are reporting other, bigger issues of concern.

“When we ask our members, ‘What’s the biggest limitation on sales or production growth,’ Insufficient demand and shortage of skilled labour have been the top two issues for the past few months,” said Nanayakkara.

The BCGEU strike, the strike by Canada Post workers, and the trade war with the United States only compound those issues, he says.

Last month, Finance Minister Brend

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