Photo courtesy Marzie at www.sxc.hu

 

 

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is drawing our attention to the negative impact of excessive regulation on small business and citizens. The organization's second annual Red Tape Awareness Week runs through Friday.
    
Manitoba Director Janine Carmichael tells us the goal is to raise public awareness about the negative impact of excessive regulation on small business and citizens. The CFIB has long championed regulatory reform, and estimates the burden of red tape costs Canadian businesses a staggering $30 billion each year in compliance costs alone. Carmichael says the level of frustration from small business owners over the time and money spent on red tape is quite high.

 

 

Carmichael says some province's have made reducing red tape a priority, noting Manitoba has implemented some practical measures such as moving more forms online. She doesn't want to take anything away from those efforts, but points to British Columbia and Nova Scotia as the provinces really leading the pack in reducing red tape. Carmichael tells us those provinces have measured the burden on small businesses, and set reduction targets. She feels this approach builds accountability and transparency into the process. Carmichael stresses this is the way Manitoba government needs to go.

Red Tape Awareness Week will feature a number of events that will highlight the situation.

 

 

As part of the Red Tape Diaries, the CFIB is asking small business owners to share their own frustrating experiences by posting stories and comments on CFIB’s Facebook page. Carmichael says Red Tape Awareness Week is about creating hope for small business owners that the problem can be fixed.