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Each year, CFIB’s prestigious Golden Scissors Award recognizes individuals or teams who have successfully motivated others to take action or produced meaningful, positive results in cutting red tape. CFIB saw some promising initiatives in 2024, but it was not enough to warrant an official Golden Scissors Award. CFIB is however recognizing some promising efforts with an "Honourable Mention" and two “Ones to Watch” Awards this year.

Golden Scissors Award

2025 Honourable Mentions and "Ones to Watch" Awards

2025 Honourable Mentions and "Ones to Watch" Awards

Honourable Mention: Safe Food for Canadians Regulations amendments for the City of Lloydminster

Awarded to: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Recipients: 

  • Paul MacKinnon, President of the CFIA

The City of Lloydminster, uniquely situated on the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan, has long faced regulatory challenges due to its recognized status in both provinces. Food safety oversight is handled by the Saskatchewan Health Authority throughout the city. However, federal food regulations under the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) did not account for Lloydminster’s special interprovincial status. As a result, local businesses had to navigate interprovincial trade requirements, including renewing and paying for a Safe Food Canada (SFC) licence every two years, ensuring all products met labelling and packaging standards, and preparing a preventive control plan (PCP) to identify food risks simply to sell food within their own city.

To address this, the Regulations Amending the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (City of Lloydminster) were developed. These amendments exempt food commodities and businesses operating within Lloydminster from federal interprovincial trade requirements under the SFCA and SFCR, treating the city as if it were entirely within one province. This change reduces red tape, supports local businesses, and aligns federal rules with the Lloydminster Charter.

This regulatory update makes it easier for businesses to operate, encourages local trade, and strengthens Lloydminster’s economy. This initiative showcases a thoughtful and practical approach to regulatory reform, making Lloydminster a model for innovative solutions to complex interprovincial challenges moving forward.

In addition to reduced red tape, there are cost-saving benefits for businesses on both sides of the provincial border as they will no longer have to bear the costs associated with the interprovincial requirements of the SFCR (see Table 1 below).

Table 1: SFCR, interprovincial trade costs per business, 2023 Canadian dollars, 7% discount rate
Activity Annualized compliance costs per business
Preventive controls and preventive control plans (PCPs)  
Developing and documenting the PCP $276
Implementing preventive controls and a PCP $7,554
Maintaining PCPs $466
PCP subtotal $8,296
Licencing  
Licence fee $144

Background information:

Winner: Council of the Atlantic Premiers - The Atlantic Physician Registry 

Recipients: 

  • The Council of the Atlantic Premiers
    • Hon. Blaine Higgs, Premier of New Brunswick
    • Hon. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland & Labrador  
    • Hon. Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia  
    • Hon. Dennis King, Premier of Prince Edward Island 

The premiers of New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are 2024 Golden Scissors Award winners for the Atlantic Physician Registry.

Launched on May 1, 2023, the Atlantic Physician Registry allows physicians registered in one of the four Atlantic provinces to practice in the others as of right. The annual fee for the Registry is $500 and replaces all fees associated with temporary or locum licences for each of the Atlantic provinces.

Previously, physicians had to submit a full separate application to each provincial college, including a registration fee to obtain a licence to practise in that province. For example, before, a doctor already licenced in New Brunswick with verified credentials applying for a license in Nova Scotia would have to fill out a 16-page application to receive a temporary licence. Additionally, they would have been required to pay $300 in fees for the initial application, and an additional $354 per 30 days, up to 180 days, maxing out at $2,124. If the same doctor wanted to apply for licences in Newfoundland & Labrador and Prince Edward Island, they would also incur fees of $1,895 and $2,125, respectively, for a total of $6,144.  

In addition to the financial savings, the Nova Scotia government estimates doctors will save 190 hours and dozens of pages of paperwork thanks to the Atlantic Physician Registry. This time saved can be used for additional patient visits and/or provide a better work-life balance for physicians. Additionally, it will encourage physicians to travel between provinces to help fill spaces where there might be a shortage of physicians. 

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs receives Golden Scissors Award

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs receives Golden Scissors Award from CFIB Atlantic Vice-President Louis-Philippe Gauthier for the province's participation in the Atlantic Physician Registry.

Andrew Furey and Beatrix Abdul Azeez

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey receives the Golden Scissors Award from CFIB policy analyst Beatrix Abdul Azeez for the province's participation in the Atlantic Physician Registry.

Dennis King and Frédéric Gionet

Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King receives the Golden Scissors Award from CFIB senior policy analyst Frédéric Gionet for the province's participation in the Atlantic Physician Registry.

Dan Kelly, Michelle Thompson, Alex Oulton, Lesley Moll et Duncan Robertson.

Nova Scotia Minister of Health Michelle Thompson receives the Golden Scissors Award on behalf of Premier Tim Houston from CFIB president Dan Kelly, policy analyst Alex Oulton, district manager Lesley Moll and senior policy analyst Duncan Robertson for the province's participation in the Atlantic Physician Registry.

“One to Watch” Award winner: Mutual recognition pilot project for the trucking industry

Awarded to: The Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (as Chairs of the coalition), and all other members of the coalition: Ontario; Nova Scotia; Manitoba; Prince Edward Island; Saskatchewan; Alberta; Northwest Territories; Yukon; and Nunavut.

Recipients:  

  • Hon. Anita Anand, Federal Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
  • Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, Federal Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs
  • Hon. Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador (Co-Chair of pilot), Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
  • Coalition members:
    • Hon. Gilles Arsenault, PEI Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (CIT Chair)
    • Hon. Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, Minister of Intergovernmental Relations
    • Hon. Warren Kaeding, Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export Development, Minister Responsible for Innovation
    • Hon. Jamie Moses, Manitoba Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation
    • Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Northwest Territories Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment
    • Hon. Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade
    • Hon. David Akeeagok, Nunavut Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Minister Responsible for Trade
    • Hon. Victor Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
    • Hon. Ranj Pillai, Premier of Yukon, Minister of Economic Development

This pilot project marks Canada’s first tangible mutual recognition policy breakthrough since the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) was signed in 2017.

Introduced on September 26, 2024, this pilot project aims to reduce internal trade barriers by committing participating provinces and territories to recognize each other’s trucking regulations without compromising safety standards. As the first initiative of its kind, this project represents a Canada-wide commitment to mutual recognition, making it easier for businesses to operate across provinces, and thereby increasing productivity and economic growth.

Participants will commit to recognizing each other’s regulations, such as driver medical requirements, training requirements, time-of-day definitions, and oversized vehicle signage requirements, ensuring the smoother movement of trucks across provincial and territorial borders.

Over $500 billion worth of goods and services moves across provincial and territorial borders every year—equal to almost 19% of Canada's gross domestic product. Last year, one third of Canadian businesses participated in internal trade by buying or selling goods across provincial and territorial borders.

In a recent report, CFIB estimated that eliminating internal trade barriers through mutual recognition could boost the economy by $200 billion annually. This pilot, which focuses on the trucking sector, is the first of its kind on this scale in Canada and is seen as a testing ground for broader future applications, including labour mobility. Participating governments will be expected to report back on their progress at the 2025 annual Committee on Internal Trade (CIT) meeting.

Background information:

 

Winner: Your Health Act – Ontario’s “As of Right” legislation 

Recipients:

  • Hon. Sylvia Jones, Ontario Minister of Health 

The Ontario Government is a 2024 Golden Scissors award winner for its Your Health Act. The Act introduced first-in-Canada “As of Right” exemptions for healthcare workers registered in any other Canadian province or territory. The exemptions allow healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and medical laboratory technologists, to start working in Ontario without having to first register with on of Ontario’s health regulatory college. Qualifying healthcare workers can work for up to six months in Ontario before having to register and are able to work and provide care during their application process, rather than having to wait for approvals. The “As of Right” legislation came into effect on July 24th, 2023.  

This move removes bureaucratic hurdles that were preventing ready-to-work healthcare workers from providing much-needed care like registration fees and lengthy paperwork. The "As of Right" Legislation not only eliminates red tape for healthcare professionals but also sets a precedent for a broader reduction in unnecessary paperwork, and paves the way for other out-of-province certifications to be treated similarly. 

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Image: Julie Kwiecinski (left, director of provincial affairs) and Ryan Mallough (right, vice president, Ontario) present Minister of Health Sylvia Jones (centre) with a 2024 Golden Scissors Award for Ontario's "As of Right" legislation, that allows healthcare workers licensed in other provinces to begin working in Ontario without having to first complete an application process.

“One to Watch” Award winner: Alberta’s “Automatic Yes” policy/framework  

Awarded to: The Government of Alberta

Recipient:  

  • Hon. Dale Nally, Alberta Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction 

Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction (SARTR) continues to take significant steps to streamline regulatory processes and reduce red tape, focusing recent efforts on improving government decision times on permits, and associated review processes. A key initiative by SARTR is the introduction of the “Automatic Yes” framework, the first of its kind in Canada. This risk-based strategy aims to speed up permit decisions while maintaining essential health, safety, and environmental standards. The framework generally targets low- and medium-risk permits, in order to reduce the review time on applications while improving application processes. This allows government to reallocate resources to focus on more complex applications, and those of relatively high-risk activities.

The “Automatic Yes” framework adds additional tools that build on the groundwork that was laid by SARTR’s creation of a provincial permit database to track and catalogue permits issued by the government. The permit database allows SARTR to work with other government ministries to identify challenge areas and solutions to help streamline the review and decision-making process. Through this work, 20% of the Alberta government’s permits have shown improvement in decision times, some by as much as 30 days. Insights gleaned from the database, in conjunction with input from government ministries, have also been instrumental in shaping Alberta’s “Automatic Yes” framework by helping to inform the way it can be applied to existing permits.

The framework includes three approaches based on those used successfully in other jurisdictions and, to some degree, already in use in the Government of Alberta: Code of Practice, Permit by Rule, and Shot Clock. Both the Code of Practice and Permit by Rule allow activities to proceed without a permit, provided defined rules and requirements are followed. In the case of Permit by Rule, applicants must also register their activities with the government and provide additional documentation. The Shot Clock sets decision deadlines for permit applications and requires communication to the applicant of either the application’s approval or the rationale for its rejection.

The three approaches within the “Automatic Yes” framework are designed to reduce red tape in review processes, improve transparency and responsiveness, and enable faster decisions for Albertans and Alberta businesses. The intended benefits of the framework are greater certainty, faster approvals, lower costs, and an improved investment environment.

Background information:

One to Watch: The City of Richmond - The MyBusiness and MyPermit online service portals  

Recipients:  

  • Malcolm Brodie, Mayor of Richmond
  • Richmond City Council 

MyBusiness is an online business licencing service within the City of Richmond’s MyRichmond portal. MyBusiness reduces red tape by streamlining the business licencing process through an online self-service option that allows new and existing business owners to apply for, update, and renew their licences online without visiting City Hall. 

This online service provides a streamlined way for businesses to interact with the City and access services on-demand such as making online payments and checking on application status. MyBusiness saves time and makes the business licencing process more convenient and accessible. The program has a strong adoption trend (50% total adoption (~7,000 businesses) in the first year).  

The City has also just recently introduced MyPermit, a new online permit portal that provides customers with the flexibility to apply for and manage their building-related permits online. This is a significant milestone in the Permitting Optimization Project that will optimize and streamline processes for all building and development permits, while leveraging technology to improve the customer experience. In its early stages, the MyPermit portal focuses on simple permit types (I.e. simple “over the counter” trades permits, such as Plumbing, Gas, Fire Suppression Sprinklers and Servicing Agreement application intakes) allowing businesses to apply for, and receive, permits with the click of a button, instead of a written application.  

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Image: City of Richmond Mayor Brodie and City Council receive Golden Scissors "One to Watch" Award from CFIB western economist Jairo Yunis and policy analyst Emily Boston for the City's MyBusiness and MyPermit online service portals.

Golden Scissors Awards Through The Years

The prestigious Golden Scissors Award recognizes politicians, public servants and other Canadians who have shown leadership in cutting red tape, producing meaningful and positive results for small businesses like yours. 

The ultimate prize of the Golden Scissors has only been bestowed on only a small handful of people and organizations. Read up on 2024's special winners, and see below for all our winners, going back to 2015!

2024: Ontario and Atlantic Provinces

In 2024, Golden Scissors Award recognizes Ontario and Atlantic provinces for boosting healthcare labour mobility:

  • The Atlantic provinces are being recognized for their visionary Atlantic Physician Registry. Launched on May 1, 2023, this groundbreaking initiative allows physicians to practice in all four Atlantic provinces without having to register in each.
  • The Ontario government is being recognized for their “As of Right” legislation. Under the leadership of health minister Sylvia Jones, the Your Health Act allows Canadian-credentialed healthcare workers to begin working in Ontario immediately, without first having to wait for the registration process to be completed. 

2023: Northwest Territories

The GNWT is being recognized for making red tape reduction a priority through its Red Tape Reduction Working Group and its online portal for the public to submit their feedback on red tape irritants. The GNWT has set a strong standard of a five-day internal response time for submissions made through the online feedback portal. Government departments are required to report back to the Red Tape Reduction Working Group on each submission made through the portal within five days, identifying how they plan to address the problem and indicating how much time is needed to complete the change.

Read more about the NWT win and the "ones to watch" - Governments of Ontario, Nova Scotia for innovation in customer service and permitting.

2022: Two Winners!

The 2022 Golden Scissors winners are being recognized for the following ground-breaking actions: 
  • The Alberta government, for passing Bill 49 – the Labour Mobility Act, which makes it easier to recognize out-of-province certifications in more than 100 regulated occupations, including optometrists, dental assistants, pharmacists, firefighters, veterinarians, social workers, accountants, and engineers. Now people in these occupations can start working in the province without having to undergo additional exams, education, or re-certification.
  • The Nova Scotia government, for its Reducing Physician Administrative Burden Initiative. The initiative started with a direct survey of doctors to help identify the overall red tape burden and quantify how much was unnecessary (such as duplicate paperwork, and antiquated procedures). It found unnecessary red tape amounts to the equivalent of 1.5 million patient visits. Work to date includes removing barriers to which health zones doctors can work in and simplifying medical intake forms such as social assistance documents.  

Learn more about the 2022 winners and honourable mention list

2021: Raising a glass to red tape reduction

Instead of doling out Golden Scissors Awards to a select few winners, we’re recognizing governments across the country who gave us something to celebrate: alcohol regulations fit for the 21st century.

Whether it was provinces allowing beer and wine to be sold with takeout orders, or municipalities who eased their patio rules and applications, politicians across Canada served up a big glass of sanity. Cheers!

2020: Three winners across Canada

In 2020, we celebrated three winners and two honourable mentions spanning five provinces.

Meet the winners:

  • Quebec Minister of Public Security, Geneviève Guilbault, for eliminating Quebec’s redundant permit requirements for bowling alleys and amusement equipment in response to receiving a Paperweight “Award” in 2019.
  • The Government of Manitoba (represented by Premier Brian Pallister), for their major overhaul of government systems, increasing accountability and transparency for citizens and breaking down silos between government departments.
  • Alberta Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction Grant Hunter, who directs the province’s list of red tape initiatives and invites citizens and businesses to submit their red tape headaches to the Cut Red Tape website to be reviewed and addressed.

CFIB also awarded two Golden Scissors honourable mentions:

  • Ontario Deputy Minister, Small Business and Red Tape Reduction Giles Gherson and the Business Relief Unit, which investigates red tape issues submitted to its “Cutting Red Tape” web portal and works directly with lawmakers to address them.
  • Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export Development Jeremy Harrison, for creating a “Help Cut Red Tape” web portal that lets business owners fast-track their red tape concerns.

Learn more about 2020's crusaders.

2019: Four winners!

In 2019, we celebrated four people who scored great victories in the fight against red tape:

  • At the federal level, former Treasury Board President Scott Brison won for his commitment to reducing federal red tape on a yearly basis. 
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford was recognized for his major overhaul of harmful labour rule changes, and his leadership on cross-government red tape reduction for small businesses. 
  • In Nova Scotia, Premier Stephen McNeil and Halifax Mayor Mike Savage were awarded for teaming up to create the Joint Project for Regulatory Modernization.

Find out more about the 2019 winners and finalists. 

2018: Manitoba's ambitious plan

In 2018, we recognized Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister and Finance Minister Cameron Friesen, for instituting an ambitious red-tape reduction plan! The province's “2-for-1” rule will see two old regulations scrapped for every new one introduced, and it has already updated 15 pieces of legislation to get rid of unnecessary rules in industries from agriculture to auto repair.

The honorable mentions were:

  • Hon. Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, for allowing small business owners to distribute T4s electronically to their employees. 
  • Nova Scotia Office of Regulatory Affairs and Service Effectiveness – Business Navigation Service, for pioneering innovative, personalized ways to help small businesses comply with regulations. 
  • Hon. Dominique Vien, Quebec’s Minister of Labour, for loosening an inflexible rule around voluntary construction work.

Find out more about the winners and finalists. 

2017: B.C. creates Red Tape Reduction Day

British Columbia Premier and Minister of Small Business win the award, for introducing an annual Red Tape Reduction Day, leading to the repeal of 37 unnecessary pieces of legislation. The Day also resulted in streamlined online applications for certain permits and more than 200 scrapped regulations.

Honorable mentions

  • Fred Crooks, Chief Regulatory Officer, Nova Scotia: For offsetting each regulation with a cost reduction for businesses.
  • Lise Thériault, Deputy Premier, Québec: For setting a goal of reducing red tape costs by 10% by 2018.
  • Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Ontario: For introducing an online portal (the Red Tape Challenge) where Ontarians can submit ideas of red tape to cut.
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency: For setting up a user-friendly online resource for agri-businesses with questions about regulations.

2016: A special task force in Québec

Quebec ministers Sam Hamad (Minister of Labour) and Jean-Denis Girard (Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises) are recognized for creating a red tape task force—and implementing 90% of its recommendations!

Honorable mentions

  • Premier Stephen McNeil, Nova Scotia: For leading the charge on an agreement between the provinces to recognize each other’s apprenticeship programs, allowing Canadians to find more work across the country. 
  • Nancy Heppner, Minister of Infrastructure and Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Trade, Saskatchewan: For harmonizing Saskatchewan’s truck regulations with Alberta’s, to facilitate transportation between the two provinces.
  • Alan McIsaac, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Prince Edward Island: For allowing farmers to register vehicles once, rather than re-registering every year. 

2015: Payroll taxes made easier

Minister of National Revenue Kerri-Lynne Findlay wins for a small, but powerful change to the way small businesses like yours remit payroll taxes to the CRA. Many small businesses can now send in payroll taxes biweekly or monthly, rather than weekly. 

Honorable mentions

  • Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary: For leading the Cut Red Tape initiative, which saved the city’s small businesses $2.8 million.
  • Diane Whalen, Finance Minister, Nova Scotia: For eliminating a regulation that would have required scrap metal dealers to collect sellers’ personal information.

About Red Tape Awareness Week: Each year, CFIB dedicates one week in January to raise public awareness about the impact of excessive regulations and red tape on small business and challenge politicians and bureaucrats across the country to take action.

Learn More