Toronto - Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops – Thompson – Cariboo was appointed today by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the Red Tape Reduction Commission.

“I’m pleased that the Prime Minister has asked me to take on this additional role,” said McLeod. “I have heard firsthand how federal regulations can often create an unnecessary burden on business and especially small business.  From multiples inspections to onerous record keeping and too many information requirements, these regulations can have a drag effect on economic performance. This Commission will work towards lessening the compliance burden in the short term, and propose options to control and reduce cumulative compliance in the long term.”

In Budget 2010, the government made a commitment to establish a new federal Red Tape Reduction Commission involving parliamentarians and private sector representatives. The red tape reduction commission will be led by the Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board, and chaired by the Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism).  The mandate of the Commission is as follows:

- Identify irritants to business that stem from federal regulatory requirements or identify how those requirements are administered in areas where reform is most needed to reduce compliance burden on business, especially small business. The focus will be on irritants that have a clear detrimental effect on growth, competitiveness and innovation and;
- Recommend options to address such irritants and control and reduce the compliance burden on a long-term basis while ensuring that the protection of the environment, health and safety of Canadians is not compromised.

“Although Canada has been recognized by the OECD as having a ‘sophisticated and mature’ regulatory system that continues to maintain high levels of health, safety, security and environmental protection, they have also recommended that reducing undue regulatory costs would help to improve Canada’s economic performance,” stated McLeod.

“I look forward to the Commission having its second meeting in Kamloops next Wednesday January 19th, and then continuing over the coming months travelling across the country,” concluded McLeod.