MEDIA ADVISORY - Red Tape Awareness Weektm is returning for its 10th year of challenging excessive regulation

TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2019 /CNW/ - Red Tape Awareness Weektm is back on January 21 for its 10^th year shining light on the negative impact excessive regulations have on Canadians and highlighting governments and public servants who have successfully cut red tape, announced the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

"Looking back over a decade of fighting red tape, we are proud of what we have accomplished and how far we have come as a country," said Laura Jones, CFIB's executive vice-president. "However, the work is never done. Like a bad weed, red tape will multiply the moment you turn your back on it. Out-of-control red tape leads to a host of bad outcomes, from higher prices and reduced entrepreneurship to some less expected ones like increased poverty and income inequality. It's an issue affecting every Canadian."

This year's Red Tape Awareness Weektm lineup includes:

• Monday, January 21: CFIB will be announcing its 2019 Paperweight Awards to highlight examples of red tape stories from across the country. Business owners will vote over the week to determine the worst of the pack.
• Tuesday, January 22: CFIB will be releasing the grades of the federal and provincial governments in its annual Red Tape Accountability Report Card.
• Wednesday, January 23: CFIB will be announcing its annual challenge to cut red tape and review progress on last year's challenge. In 2018 we challenged the premiers to address three key red tape pain points related to internal trade. In 2019 we are asking municipalities to step up and do their part.
• Thursday, January 24:
• The Golden Scissors Award winners and honourable mentions will be announced, highlighting the governments and public servants who have done an exceptional job of cutting unnecessary red tape (nominees will be announced on January 17).
• Farmers deal with unique red tape challenges, such as being asked to complete Statistics Canada surveys during their busiest time of year. CFIB will release new research on the red tape burden placed on the agricultural industry.
• Friday, January 25: The Business Owners' Choice Paperweight Award will be announced on CFIB's social media platforms ? Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

CFIB's Red Tape Awareness Weektm is encouraging governments across the country to launch their own red tape reduction initiatives. To learn more visit CFIB.ca/redtape and follow #redtape.

About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 110,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners' chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.

SOURCE Canadian Federation of Independent Business