St. John’s, NL (January 29, 2025) – Tony Wakeham, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and MHA for Stephenville-Port au Port, is reaffirming his commitment to red tape reduction following today’s release of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)’s 2025 Red Tape Report Card, which gives Newfoundland and Labrador another failing grade.
“The business community is the backbone of our provincial economy, driving innovation, job creation, and community growth,” said Wakeham. “It is shocking and discouraging that our province is given another ‘F’ for red tape reduction by the CFIB. This latest report card clearly demonstrates that the Furey Liberals are not taking red tape reduction seriously and failing to create the conditions needed for business growth in our province.”
Wakeham said a PC Government would listen to the business community and take a pro-business approach.
“For too long, the Furey Liberals have ignored businesses and put roadblocks in their way. They need to be reminded that a government’s job is to remove the obstacles that block the path to business growth and sustainability. And that is what a Wakeham Government will do. We will prioritize red tape reduction to make it less expensive to set up and do business here,” continued Wakeham.
Wakeham said a PC Government will put measures in place to help and not hinder business growth, including:
Reduce and reform the payroll tax.
Implement an aggressive red tape reduction strategy through a pro-business approach.
Set service benchmarks and report on performance.
Make it easier to fill out online forms.
Extended hours for the business navigator help desk to ensure businesses can easily find information and get status updates on applications.
“Empowering our local businesses is crucial for economic growth,” continued Wakeham. “Under the Furey Liberals, businesses continue to be tangled up in red tape. This is unacceptable. A PC Government under my leadership will work with the business community to eliminate barriers and create a better path to growth and prosperity. This province leads the country in red tape. I want to lead the country in red tape reduction.”
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