The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has given Manitoba a failing grade, when it comes to red tape accountability. Manitoba received an F on CFIB's annual red tape report card, which is released each year during the organization's Red Tape Awareness Week. The grade marks a drop from the D received in 2014, and provincial director Elliot Sims explains that's due to a lack of measures to combat red tape, and to take accountability for the issue.

"In Manitoba, small businesses and entrepreneurs spend about $1.2 billion every year complying with regulations. Of that amount, nearly $400 million of that is red tape, meaning confusing government forms, bad customer service from government agencies and commissions, as well as the duplication of forms and repetitive requests for the same information."

While Manitoba received the lowest grade, governments that recently had elections were exempted from the report, including the federal government, Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Newfoundland and Labrador. British Columbia topped the list for the second year in a row with an A grade, while Ontario and Quebec both had B+. Sims explains those at the top of the list all have one thing in common.

"They've put in place legislation to annually measure the regulatory burden on small businesses, and to publicly report on that figure. From there, those governments have been able to set targets for the reduction of regulatory burdens and the elimination of red tape. That frees up the entrepreneurs to focus on customers, employees and their products."

Sims admits our provincial government had a few good ideas to help reduce the challenges faced by small businesses, but notes actions speak louder than words.

"The provincial red tape report card marks actions, not intentions. CFIB was pleased with the intentions of the provincial government, and the announcements earlier this week. The reality is is that those intentions aren't in place, and they haven't done anything to reduce the red tape burden that small businesses face."

He says the NDP's efforts to modernize liquor laws was one measure that's been taken over the last few years to improve red tape, but says the examples of red tape accountability are few and far between.