Canada Among World Leaders in Cutting Red Tape

QUÉBEC CITY, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Oct. 1, 2012) - The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry, today unveiled changes to Statistics Canada's survey of small businesses as part of the Red Tape Reduction Action Plan, the Harper Government's ambitious and far-reaching plan to cut red tape and support businesses in their efforts to create jobs, stimulate growth and invest in the future.

The Action Plan released today details the ways in which the Government is addressing issues that were identified during consultations in 2011 as being irritants to business. With respect to Statistics Canada, the agency will further optimize the sample size of businesses contacted for its business surveys, while reducing content requirements. By 2014, small businesses will save an estimated $640,000 per year in time and paperwork.

"As Minister of Industry, I know that Canadian businesses-of all sizes and in all sectors-face redundant, inefficient and ineffective regulations every day," said Minister Paradis. "This red tape costs businesses money; and perhaps more importantly, it takes their attention away from what they do best: developing products, delivering services, and ultimately creating jobs and economic growth for Canadians."

Cutting red tape and ensuring that the regulatory process is transparent and responsive is one of the most important initiatives government can undertake to help businesses thrive. These reforms set a higher standard for reducing regulatory burden and cement Canada's international reputation as one of the best places in the world to do business.

"The reforms that the Government will implement under the Action Plan are a game-changer for doing business in Canada," said Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board and lead minister for the Action Plan. "Regulation must continue to protect the health, safety and environment of all Canadians. But we can do this while freeing business from frustrating red tape that hurts economic growth."

The Red Tape Reduction Action Plan is the product of business community input into a year-long commission. It includes 90 department-specific reforms, which target specific irritants to business, as well as six whole-of-government systemic changes. The reforms target three main areas: reducing administrative burden on business, making it easier to do business with regulators, and improving service and predictability. The vast majority of these reforms will be implemented in the next three years.

"The Government's plan will make Canada a global leader in addressing and controlling red tape," said Laura Jones, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). "More importantly, elements of the plan have the potential to actually make a difference in the lives of entrepreneurs who struggle daily with government red tape."

For more information on the Red Tape Reduction Action Plan, please visit www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/redtape.