Press Releases
Tired of Red Tape?
(Queen's Park Report - January 20, 2010) Is onerous red tape holding you or your business back? Are you pointlessly filling out government forms, obtaining permits for things you shouldn’t need permits for, or waiting for approvals from endless layers of bureaucracy? If so, I want to hear from you.
According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, red tape
costs Ontario $10.9 billion per year. That’s nine times more than the
government spends at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural
Affairs.
In an attempt to tackle overregulation, the previous Progressive
Conservative struck a Red Tape Commission that saw the elimination of
over 2,100 unnecessary regulations. Prior to that undertaking, it was
actually illegal in Ontario to make yellow coloured margarine because
it looked too much like real butter. Also prior to that, movie
theatre projectionists had to get 800 hours of training before taking
on a job, even though helicopter pilots only required 600 hours of
training.
Unfortunately, silly government rules like those have crept back onto
the books under Dalton McGuinty’s watch. He’s created hundreds of new
regulations that are hindering the ability of businesses and
individuals to accomplish something.
When I talk to business owners they often talk about the mounds of
paperwork they have to pile through. The list of forms to complete is
extensive, including those for sales taxes, payroll taxes, workers
compensation, business licenses and permits, records of employment,
sign by-law requirements, privacy rules and the list goes on and on.
As if the paperwork isn’t enough, there are also stories out there
about people getting approvals to build something from one branch of
government, say the Ministry of Natural Resources, only to be fined and
hauled into court by another department, like the Ministry of
Environment.
These are the reasons why Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservative
Caucus are once again taking action. Our red tape watchdog, MPP Julia
Munro, has launched www.tiredofredtape.ca in an effort to hear from
consumers and small businesses concerned with burdensome red tape. We
want to read your stories. Tell us how we can improve the efficiency
of government and point to areas where the McGuinty government is
letting you down.
Of course, if you require help in sorting through a particular problem,
you’re always welcome to call my office at 1-800-268-7542 for
assistance.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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