Media Advisory - Golden Scissors Award finalists announced in lead up to annual Red Tape Awareness Week™

Award will recognize leadership in cutting red tape for small business

TORONTO, Jan. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - With only a few days left until the start of Red Tape Awareness Week^TM (Jan 16^th -20^th), the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has announced the finalists for the inaugural Golden Scissors Award. The Award recognizes an individual who has successfully motivated or demonstrated leadership and courage, and produced meaningful and positive results in cutting red tape for small business.

CFIB gathered dozens of possible Golden Scissors Award nominations from all levels of government across Canada.  The winner will be announced Thursday, January 19^th  and will receive a special trophy, framed certificate, as well as recognition on CFIB's website, Facebook page, and other member communication.

The finalists for 2012 Golden Scissors Award are:

			Nominee:					Project/Initiative:
			1.	His Worship Naheed Nenshi, Mayor, Calgary				Food truck licensing pilot project
			2.	Mr. Jeremy White, Director, Investigation and Enforcement, Nova Scotia Alcohol & Gaming Division, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations				Streamlining liquor licensing and casino regulations; introducing risk-based inspections
			3.	Mr. Rick Thorpe, Minister of Provincial Revenue, British Columbia, 2004-2008				The Taxpayer Fairness and Service Code
			4.	His Worship Frank Leonard, Mayor of Saanich; His Worship Stewart Young, Mayor of Langford;  Paul Murray, Director of Finance, City of Saanich; and David Duke, Municipal Administrator (retired), City of Saanich				Regional business licenses in the Capital Region District (Victoria area, B.C.)
			5.	Hon. Kevin Falcon, Minister of State for Deregulation, British Columbia, 2001-2004; Minister of Finance, March 2011-present				Cutting red tape by 40% and introducing the Regulatory Reporting Act
			6.	Mr. Bob Laramy, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Finance				Sales tax administration
			7.	Hon. Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan				Regulatory Modernization Council
			8.	Ms. Mavis Taillieu, MLA, Morris, Manitoba				Regulatory Accountability & Transparency Act
			9.	Mr. Sam Hamad, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Quebec				Creation of a Red Tape Reduction Committee and launching of an Entrepreneurial Strategy
			10.	Hon. Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue, Ottawa, 2008-2010				Identification of CRA agents
			11.	Hon. Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, 2006-2007, Government of Canada; and Hon. Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State, Small Business and Tourism, Government of Canada, 2007-2010				Development and launch of BizPaL

More detailed information about each finalist and their red tape cutting achievements, can be found at www.cfib-fcei.ca   

About CFIB: As Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 108,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy.

About Red Tape Awareness Week^TM: Each year, CFIB dedicates one week in January to raise public awareness about the impact of excessive regulations and red tape on small business and challenge politicians and bureaucrats across the country to take action.

 

 

To find out more about the Golden Scissors Award or Red Tape Awareness Week^TM, contact Gisele Lumsden or Meghan Carrington at 416.222.8022 or [email protected].