The number of small businesses that report being directly affected by crime in Canada nearly doubled over the past 12 months, a trend compounded by rising homelessness and the mental health and opioid crisis, a recent report suggests.
More than 60 percent of small businesses report seeing an increase in crime in their communities, with nearly 30 percent describing it as a significant increase, according to a recent report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB).
Theft, vandalism, and littering are top concerns for the business owners, many of whom say they fear not only for the future of their businesses, but also for their safety and that of their staff and customers….