January 19, 2016 – Manitoba Finance Minister Greg Dewar recently announced the government is launching an action strategy to “cut red tape” and help grow small businesses.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, driving economic growth and creating good jobs,” Dewar said.

The strategy is focused on better communication and reporting regarding regulatory changes, according to the province, as well as “more innovative approaches” to red tape reduction and advancing the adoption of the Manitoba Employers Council’s (MEC) Best Practices in Regulation Making by provincial regulators.

The MEC advisory committee includes representatives from Restaurants Canada, the Retail Council of Canada, the Manitoba and Winnipeg Chambers of Commerce, the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

In addition to the recommendations included in Best Practices in Regulation Making, the government noted it is also working to implement other MEC recommendations including extending regulatory analysis to other sectors of the economy, such as restaurants, and delivering regulatory guidance services to businesses and entrepreneurs.

Almost 98% of Manitoba’s businesses are small businesses, the province stated, representing about 24% of Manitoba’s GDP and accounting for more than two-thirds of private-sector jobs.