The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has declared this Red Tape Awareness Week.
A recent CFIB survey shows 95% of farmers believe reducing red tape would help make Canada more competitive and innovative.
Marilyn Braun-Pollon CFIB’s Vice-President for Agri-business says red tape comes in many forms.
“It’s confusing forms, poor customer service, excessive or outdated regulations, and as I said red tape hits home closest for farmers. I mean a farmer doesn't have time to sit on the phone waiting for the government to answer a question or wasting time filling out piles of confusing paperwork.”
The top five government agencies that farmers felt could reduce the red tape included the Canada Revenue Agency, Statistics Canada, Environment Canada and Climate Change Canada, Service Canada (with the processing of Temporary Foreign workers and Records of Employment) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
She says this week the CFIB handed out its 2020 Red Tape Report Card giving Saskatchewan and Manitoba both an “A”.
“Saskatchewan again is a finalist for the eighth year in a row I believe for CFIB’s Golden Scissors Award. That was for introducing the Help Cut Red Tape web portal which lets business owners fast track their red tape concerns. So any farmer, that's listening and they have a red tape headache they should certainly go to Help Cut Red Tape web portal, and they can share their frustrations. But, I think when you look at Manitoba they’ve also been a really strong contender. They’ve received an “A” on the report card for the third consecutive year. So you know the province performs really well in a number of areas and you know they have the most comprehensive measure of regulations across North America.”
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