Red Tape Report Card reveals mixed results

BC leads the way on regulatory reform

TORONTO, Jan. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - As part of its third annual Red Tape Awareness Week™. the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released its annual Red Tape Report Card today. While several governments took steps forward on red tape reform, the grades show there is room to improve.

The report card evaluates federal and provincial governments' progress to date on regulatory reform. It looks at measurement, political leadership, constraints on regulators and a permanent commitment to report. "Without a commitment in these areas, red tape initiatives are doomed to fail," said Laura Jones, senior vice president of Research, Economics and Western Canada.

British Columbia earns top marks for its leadership. In addition to measuring the red tape burden for a decade, it recently passed first-of-its-kind legislation requiring an annual report on regulation.

"We've seen red tape initiatives come and go in other provinces as governments change or new priorities come along," said Jones. "Making reforms permanent is the key to long-term success."

Several provinces and the federal government improved their grades over last year. Nova Scotia's grade took the biggest tumble, while Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and the Northwest Territories all received failing grades for making little or no progress.

"In a time of economic uncertainty, one of the best, low-cost stimulus measures governments can undertake is cutting red tape," said Jones, "it's also a way to help boost productivity - an area where Canada currently lags."

The table below displays the grades from 2011 and the new 2012 rankings.

What does 'Red Tape' mean to you? Check out CFIB's video on what it looks like to one small business owner: http//www.youtube.com/user/cfibdotca

Red Tape Awareness Week™, conducted annually, is trade-marked by the CFIB.

As Canada's largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 108,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy.

	2011 Grade				2012 Grade
British Columbia	B+				A
Newfoundland & Labrador	B				B
Federal government	C+				B-
Quebec	C+				B-
Saskatchewan	C+				B-
Ontario	C-				B-
New Brunswick	C-				C+
Nova Scotia	B				D
Alberta	F				D
Yukon	F				D
Manitoba	F				F
Prince Edward Island	D				F
Northwest Territories	F				F

For further information or to set up an interview with Laura Jones, contact Gisele Lumsden or Meghan Carrington at [phone] or via [email protected].