Small businesses welcome Ontario's focus on tackling red tape
Clock starts on 60-day period to streamline regulations
TORONTO, Aug. 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) will meet with senior representatives from the Ontario Government to address the regulatory burden on small business. The meeting will be chaired by the Honourable Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and Innovation.
"Government red tape costs Ontario businesses a staggering $11 billion a year," said CFIB's Ontario vice president Satinder Chera. "Our members tell us that excessive red tape is their second-highest priority after taxes, so anything that can be done to make things easier for small business will help to grow the economy and create jobs."
Today's meeting is part of Ontario's Business Sector Strategy, where CFIB was asked to identify five priorities that, if addressed, would remove barriers to small business growth. Affected Ministries will be given 60 days to address those priorities, or explain why they cannot be addressed and recommend alternative solutions. This outreach follows Premier McGuinty's 2011 election commitment to CFIB members to reduce the red tape burden they face.
CFIB will propose the following five-point action plan:
- Reduce the paper-burden imposed by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB);
- Give small business a fair and equal opportunity to bid on government procurement contracts;
- Continue to measure and publicly report the number of regulatory requirements imposed on small business;
- Undertake a regular review of all new and existing regulations on businesses; and
- Improve customer service with online tools to enable businesses to provide feedback and obtain answers to existing regulations.
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 109,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy.
SOURCE: CANADIAN FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS
To arrange an interview with Satinder Chera, please call Gisele Lumsden at 416-222-8022 or by email at [email protected] or follow developments on twitter #ofbsmallbiz
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