Media Advisory - Red Tape Awareness Week™ to expose hidden tax on goods and services in Canada

TORONTO, Jan. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Next week is the Canadian Federation of Independent Business' third annual Red Tape Awareness Week™. Once again, CFIB is challenging all levels of government in Canada to commit to tackling the burden red tape places on small business, a problem ultimately borne by consumers through higher prices for goods and services.

"Red tape is like death by a thousand paper cuts. It's a cost that leaves hundreds of thousands of small business owners frustrated," says Laura Jones, CFIB's senior vice president. "Every hour spent dealing with red tape is an hour not spent serving a customer or training an employee. It has a huge impact on all Canadians."

During Red Tape Awareness Week™, CFIB will highlight the extent of the regulatory burden and solutions to help save consumers, business AND governments money by releasing the Red Tape Digital Diaries - a series of digital videos chronicling the red tape frustrations of small business owners - along with the following reports and announcements:

Monday, January 16
Grading the Taxman - See how the Canada Revenue Agency treats small business

Tuesday, January 17
Grading all Governments - See how governments stack-up on red tape accountability

Thursday, January 19
Inaugural presentation of Golden Scissors Award - See which civil servant or government in Canada has done the most to cut red tape in 2011

Friday January 20
Planting the future of agriculture - See how farmers fare against the red tape machine

"With household finances stretched to the limit, one way to ease their pressure is to reduce the nearly $30 billion that businesses must pay every year to comply with outdated government regulations and costly paperwork. That's a win-win for everyone," concluded Jones.

Red Tape Awareness Week™, conducted annually, is trade-marked by the 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.

For more information or to arrange an interview with Laura Jones, contact Gisele Lumsden or Meghan Carrington at 416 222-8022 or email [email protected]