B.C. Ministers awarded CFIB’s top honour for reducing red tape
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
B.C.'s Premier and Small Business Minister took home the CFIB's 2017 Golden Scissors Award, for their province-wide red tape reduction initiative
Laura Jones, executive vice-president (left), and Samantha Howard, B.C. director of Provincial Affairs for CFIB (right), present the 2017 Golden Scissors Award to Coralee Oakes, minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction for B.C. (middle). PHOTO: CNW Group, CFIB
The Golden Scissors Award is a part of CFIB’s annual Red Tape Awareness Week, a campaign aimed at drawing attention to regulatory inefficiencies and waste.
In 2015, B.C. became the first jurisdiction in North America to legislate an annual Red Tape Reduction Day, dedicated to repealing outdated regulations and improving government customer service.
In advance of their first Red Tape Reduction Day, held Mar. 2, 2016, the B.C. government conducted an online consultation where more than 400 ideas were submitted from the public. Each idea was reviewed and many have been acted on.
As a result of B.C.’s Red Tape Reduction Day:
- The government repealed 37 pieces of legislation
- Over 215 regulatory requirements were removed
- It now takes only 15 minutes to apply online for special occasion licenses to host parties or outdoor weddings, replacing an extensive amount of paperwork
- Transitioning military personnel and retired veterans no longer need additional testing as they transfer their truck driving credentials to commercial licences
- British Columbians can now get information and assistance to register to be an organ donor at any of the 62 Service BC locations
“Once again, the Golden Scissors Award has brought together an impressive list of finalists from across Canada. The exceptional leadership shown by Premier Clark and Minister Oakes is a clear example of government officials’ outstanding commitment to cutting red tape on small businesses,” said Laura Jones, executive vice-president at CFIB.
The winners, chosen from nominations from across the country, received a trophy, a framed certificate and recognition on the CFIB website, Facebook page, and other small business publications.
In addition to the winners, four honourable mentions were also announced today.
The Golden Scissors Award comes on the heels of CFIB’s 2017 Paperweight Awards, dubious distinctions afforded to governments involved in excessive over-regulation.
