Photo: hellobc.com

MP Mel Arnold is getting lots of calls from campground operators and RV companies over a change to a Canada Revenue classification for such operations. 

The North Okanagan-Shuswap MP told a group of Salmon Arm business people a 300 per cent increase in tax could be the last straw for an already shrinking industry. 

CRA announced last year the campground’s principal purpose is to derive rental income instead of providing a service, so it should not be eligible for the small business tax rate. 

CRA added unless an operation has five or more full-time employees year round, it’s too small to be a small business.

“Many operations employ dozens on a seasonal basis, but can’t operate 12 months of the year due to weather or municipal zoning restrictions,” said Arnold.

As the 2017 camping season gets underway, there is a lot of uncertainty in the industry.

An online petition to the minister of finance has received more than 6,000 signatures to date.