TORIES WOULD LIGHTEN THE BURDEN FOR SMALL BUSINESS

Manitoba small business drowning in paper work: Taillieu

 January 11, 2010

Kicking off Red Tape Awareness week, Progressive Conservative Critic for Small Business and Regulatory Reform, Mavis Taillieu, is taking aim at the mountain of paperwork and regulations that many small business owners in Manitoba face each and every day.

Today, she met with local business owner Vic Polsom to see firsthand some of the challenges her new Private Members’ Bill – The Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act – would address.

“Manitoba is one of few provinces in Canada not taking steps to reduce red tape and regulatory burden,” Taillieu said. “Now, facing the effects of a global recession, it’s more important than ever that government do everything possible to streamline the often endless trail of regulations, permits, licenses and paperwork.”

Her bill would require government to develop formal procedures to make the process for enacting regulations more transparent. It also requires government departments to develop specific plans to eliminate unnecessary regulations and encourage restraint in making new regulations. Both the government procedures and department plans must be made public.

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), Manitoba businesses spend $945 million to comply with regulations annually, and the annual cost of regulation per employee is almost $4,800 for Manitoba businesses with less than 5 employees. 

Shannon Martin, Director of Provincial Affairs for CFIB said red tape has the largest impact on small business.

“This bill would allow employers to focus on growing their business and would bring Manitoba into the mainstream in terms of regulatory reform,” Martin said.  

Taillieu acknowledged her bill would be just a first step – but it would be a step in the right direction.

“Reducing regulatory burden would make Manitoba businesses more competitive and would encourage other businesses to locate in Manitoba,” Taillieu said. “It would give them more time to focus on their productivity rather than always worrying if they have dotted every ‘i’ and crossed every ‘t’. I look forward to working with my NDP and Liberal colleagues to ensure the passage of this very important legislation.”