Reward your favourite red tape renegade
by CanadianManufacturing.com Staff,
Nominations open for individuals or teams of people who have demonstrated leadership and produced real results in cutting red tape for small businesses
TORONTO—Canadian small business owners consistently rank red tape as one of the most daunting business issues standing in the way of success, according to The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
The Toronto-based lobby group spends much of its resources addressing the issue with various levels of officialdom, but now it wants to recognize others who have been effective at leading efforts to reduce costly bureaucratic processes.
Indeed, it has opened nominations for its third annual Golden Scissors Award, which recognizes individuals or teams of people who have demonstrated leadership and produced real results in cutting red tape for small businesses.
CFIB executive vice-president Laura Jones says the award is presented to a politician, public servant or other Canadian “…who has heard the voice of small business owners and is taking action to reduce the burden of red tape.”
Nominations for The Golden Scissors Award are open until Dec. 2, 2013. CFIB is looking for inspiring stories about elected officials or policy makers who are finding unique and innovative ways to reduce harmful and excessive regulations on small business owners. The winner and honourable mentions will be announced in January during CFIB’s Red Tape Awareness Week.
Last year’s winner was the Hon. Gail Shea, Canada’s former Minister of National Revenue, who changed Canada Revenue Agency’s My Business Account into an online system and helped ensure that tax advice provided to business owners is upheld, even when it is found to be incorrect.
“Red tape is not just a hassle for Canada’s small businesses,” said Richard Truscott, CFIB’s director of provincial affairs for Alberta. “It impairs our prosperity as Canadians. It hinders growth and investment, costs jobs and delays our economic growth. The Golden Scissors Award really recognizes those individuals who are taking it upon themselves to make a meaningful change for the better.”
CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 109,000 members across every sector and region.
For more information on The Golden Scissors Award, visit the CFIB’s site.
