Red Tape Awareness Week™ 2022 to focus on a competitive Canadian recovery

A new set of Red Tape Report Grades and Golden Scissors Awards will also be announced

Toronto, February 17, 2022 –The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)’s Red Tape Awareness Week™ is back from February 22 to 25 for its 13th year. Red Tape Awareness Week challenges governments across Canada to reduce red tape and modernize regulation. 

“As we look towards recovery, there is a real opportunity for Canada to create a strong, competitive business environment,” said Laura Jones, CFIB executive vice-president. “But we have to seize it. Small businesses have endured endless changing restrictions for nearly two years and expect governments to get really focussed on regulatory modernization.”

Nine out of ten businesses say it is important for government to reduce red tape, but three-quarters are not confident governments are committed to doing it, according to CFIB survey results. 

“Governments at all levels have had to learn to be agile in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Turning patio approvals around in 48 hours, allowing electronic signatures for government paperwork, and simplifying CRA tax forms all demonstrate the kind of flexibility business owners have been seeking for years. It’s crucial that we don’t snap back,” added Jones. 

The 2022 Red Tape Awareness Week lineup includes:

• Tuesday, February 22: CFIB releases the report Regulatory Costs in Canada and the United States: A Small Business Perspective. This year’s report looks at how Canada stacks up against our neighbours to the south when it comes to regulatory cost, and time business owners waste cutting through red tape each year. Where are the opportunities for government to help boost economic recovery? This report was produced in partnership with Intuit Canada and The Small Business Roundtable.  
• Wednesday, February 23: CFIB’s Golden Scissors are awarded to governments making ground-breaking moves towards regulatory modernization. Find out which policies are taking home the prize!
• Thursday, February 24: Who is best in class and who’s getting detention? Find out as CFIB’s 12th annual Red Tape Report Card hands out the grades for red tape leadership and accountability to the federal and provincial governments.

For media inquiries or interviews, please contact:
Milena Stanoeva, CFIB
647-464-2814
public.affairs@cfib.ca 

Sponsorship and partnership
The Regulatory Costs in Canada and the United States: A Small Business Perspective report was conducted with sponsorship from Intuit Canada and in partnership with The Small Business Roundtable survey. 

About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 95,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.