Golden Scissors Award finalists announced for fourth annual Red Tape Awareness Week™

Award recognizes leadership in cutting red tape for entrepreneurs

TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2013 /CNW/ - With only a few days left until the start of Canada's fourth annual Red Tape Awareness Week^TM (Jan 21-25), the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has announced the finalists for its second Golden Scissors Award. The Award recognizes an individual who has successfully motivated or demonstrated leadership and courage, and produced meaningful and positive results in cutting red tape for small business.

CFIB gathered dozens of possible Golden Scissors Award nominations from all levels of government across Canada. The winner will be announced Friday, January 25^th and will receive a special trophy, framed certificate, as well as recognition on CFIB's website, Facebook page, and other member communication.

The finalists for 2013 Golden Scissors Award are:

Nominee:					Project/Initiative:
1.		The Hon. Alison Redford, Premier of Alberta; the Hon. Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan; and the Hon. Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia.			Creating common business registration rules, labour mobility provisions, and streamlined regulations through the New West Partnership.
2.		Gerard Griffin, Director of Regulatory Reform, Department of Service, Newfoundland and Labrador.			Leading Newfoundland and Labrador's commitment to reducing red tape.
3.		The Hon. Maureen MacDonald, Minister of Finance, Nova Scotia; the Hon. Dan Albas, Member of Parliament for Okanagan- Coquihalla; and Shirley-Ann George.			Reducing barriers to transporting wine and spirits across provincial borders.
4.		Nancy MacLellan, Executive Director for Service Delivery, Service Nova Scotia.			Introducing BizPaL, and improving service standards in Nova Scotia, such as requiring that most provincial licenses and permits be processed within 10 business days.
5.		The Hon. Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and Innovation, Ontario.			Reducing paperwork, improving customer service and strengthening public accountability in government.
6.		Cathy Shaw, Cari Bowley, and Victor Chiarella, Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade, Government of Manitoba, and Stan Bucko, Kirk Cumming, Norm Dobson, City of Winnipeg.			Working with the City of Winnipeg to become the first municipality in Canada to formally adopt the Business Number as the common identifier for business.
7.		Bev Monea, Chair of Regulatory Modernization Council (RMC), Saskatchewan.			Leading Saskatchewan's Regulatory Modernization Council.
8.		Jean Saint-Gelais, Secretary-General and Clerk of the Conseil exécutif, and former CEO of Revenu Québec.			Identifying and reducing red tape at Revenu Québec; remarkable commitment to the efforts made by the government's Red Tape Committee.
9.		The Hon. Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue.			Changing CRA's My Business Account into an online system for communicating with government and ensuring advice is respected by CRA even when they're wrong.
10.		The Hon. Rob Moore, Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal; the Hon. Maxime Bernier, Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism; and the Hon. Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board.			Leading the federal Red Tape Reduction Commission.

To read the full list of finalists, please visit www.cfib.ca.

Canadians are encouraged to show their support for CFIB's Red Tape Revolution by signing the on-line petition at www.cfib.ca/redtape.

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 109,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy.

SOURCE: CANADIAN FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS

please call Gisele Lumsden at 416-222-8022 or by email at [email protected]