Toronto’s “ridiculous” rules for commercial dog walkers — they were banned from Ramsden’s off-leash area due to noise complaints — won the city a spot on the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’ list for the 2025 Paperweight Awards.
The CFIB’s awards showcase what it calls “the most egregious examples of red tape mismanagement” across Canada.
This year’s “winner” is the Manitoba Government for backtracking on regulatory accountability with the introduction of Bill 16.
“For six years, Manitoba was a leader in regulatory accountability, showing other jurisdictions what’s possible when governments take red tape reduction seriously,” said CFIB vice president Ryan Mallough.
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“With Bill 16, the government has wiped away that hard-won progress, leaving government without a clear way to measure or manage regulatory burdens. After years of charting new territory, why throw out the map?”
Other top “red tape” offenders:
– the federal government’s botched GST/HST tax holiday, which the CFIB called “the sales tax nightmare before Christmas.” The CFIB says the tax holiday turned into a logistical nightmare for small businesses.
– A Quebec town of Les Cèdres bylaw which required children fill out paperwork to play outside. This bylaw required local children fill out an annual form indicating what street they would like to play on, obtain signatures from two-thirds of the adult residents living on the relevant street, and then submit their form to a recreation director— or risk getting fined up to $1,000.
– The City of Winnipeg charging $28 for residents and businesses to see their tax assessments.
“Every year, the Paperweight Awards highlight the worst offenders in red tape mismanagement, and they are a reminder of how poor policy decisions affect everyday Canadians and small business,” said CFIB research analyst Francesca Basta.