Province receives C grade in annual red tape report card
St. John’s, January 24, 2017 – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is releasing its annual Red Tape Report Card as part of Red Tape Awareness WeekTM. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is receiving a “C” grade for improving accountability surrounding the regulatory burden faced by small businesses. The mark recognizes the passing of regulatory accountability legislation in the House of Assembly last year, a move welcomed by small businesses.
The report card evaluates federal, provincial and territorial governments’ progress on regulatory reform. It looks at political leadership, efforts to publicly measure and report on the regulatory burden, and restrictions on growth in regulations.
“Red tape is a hidden tax on all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that hits small businesses particularly hard,” said Vaughn Hammond, Director of Provincial Affairs in Newfoundland and Labrador. “Regulatory accountability can significantly contribute to understanding what the government’s red tape reduction priorities should be.”
Other jurisdictions, like British Columbia and Quebec, are showing a commitment to regulatory reform by demonstrating transparency and accountability. As the Newfoundland and Labrador government strives to address the province’s fiscal situation, there are benefits of red tape reduction. The elimination of unnecessary rules and poor customer service will lead to smaller government and unleash the power of entrepreneurs to grow the economy.
“It costs business owners $144 million a year, so the government needs a sustained focus on reducing the regulatory burden in the province,” explained Hammond. “It has announced red tape initiatives as part of its “The Way Forward” document and CFIB is hopeful for positive results in the coming months.”
To request an interview, contact Vaughn Hammond at vaughn.hammond@cfib.ca or 709-753-7764.
CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses with 109,000 members across every sector and region.
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