The results of a survey recently done by the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce is backing up a prediction they'd made at the start of the year.

The Province's Carbon Levy is hurting Central Alberta Business owners.

The NDP's tax has been in place for 3 months now, and the Chamber of Commerce has polled their members to gauge its effect on business.

Their survey shows 75% of Central Alberta businesses are facing higher costs from their vendors, 44% will be reducing spending, and 60% expect their profits will dip.

Reg Warkentin with the Chamber says the original goal behind the Carbon Tax isn't being reached.

"I think it's really easy to understand why people are comparing it to a sales tax. Because really it's just making everything more expensive. We know that the design of the carbon levy was to entice a change and try and reduce emissions, but we're not even really seeing too much of that either. So it's just hurting business in a lot of ways."

While 75% of polled businesses in the region are facing higher costs from the vendors they deal with, luckily for us, only about 32% of them are passing those added costs on to consumers.

Warkentin says with no end to the levy in sight, they're hoping to work with the Province to help hurting businesses.

"We'll be looking at ways to help businesses mitigate those costs. Whether it's through 0% loans for businesses looking to do retrofits and make their buildings more efficient. Or corresponding reductions in personal and corporate income taxes."

Warkentin says the economy has taken longer to bounce back than expected, so businesses are trying to find any possible way to save money.

Many are doing that by reducing hours, wages, and even cutting staff.