Halifax, January 29, 2025 – Newfoundland and Labrador has received a failing grade in the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)’s 15th annual Red Tape Report Card, released today during Red Tape Awareness Week™.
“Unfortunately there is no concrete evidence Newfoundland and Labrador applied any comprehensive measurement practice, targets for red tape reduction, or meaningful restraint on regulators in 2024.” said Louis-Philippe Gauthier, Atlantic Vice-president. “Government has an opportunity over the coming year to move the needle forward with the new Business Navigator Program launched in January.”
The 2025 Red Tape Report Card grades:
| Jurisdiction | Regulatory accountability (40%) |
Regulatory burden (40%) |
Political priority (20%) |
Housing initiatives (Bonus 2%) | Overall score and grade |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta |
8.9 |
A- |
9.3 |
A |
10 |
A |
10 |
9.5 |
A |
| Nova Scotia |
8.8 |
A- |
8.1 |
B |
10 |
A |
10 |
8.9 |
A- |
|
Ontario |
8.9 |
A- |
7.9 |
B |
10 |
A |
10 |
8.9 |
A- |
|
British Columbia |
8.9 |
A- |
8.9 |
A- |
5.5 |
D |
10 |
8.4 |
B+ |
|
Quebec |
8.8 |
A- |
6.7 |
C |
9.5 |
A |
10 |
8.3 |
B+ |
|
Saskatchewan |
8.0 |
B |
8.0 |
B |
6.0 |
C- |
0 |
7.6 |
B- |
|
Federal |
6.6 |
C |
7.0 |
C |
6.5 |
C- |
10 |
7.0 |
C |
|
Prince Edward Island |
5.8 |
D |
6.5 |
C- |
6.5 |
C- |
10 |
6.4 |
C- |
|
Manitoba |
1.8 |
F |
8.8 |
A- |
2.0 |
F |
5 |
4.7 |
F |
|
Newfoundland and Labrador |
3.0 |
F |
5.5 |
D |
6.5 |
C- |
0 |
4.7 |
F |
|
New Brunswick* |
5.6 |
D |
6.0 |
C- |
NA |
NA |
5 |
NA |
NA |
*Due to a change in government in New Brunswick in October 2024, CFIB has assigned the province a status of “NA” (Not applicable) in lieu of a grade in the political priority section. As a result, the province is also marked as “NA” for the overall grade in this year’s report card, acknowledging the transition to a new government. We will resume grading New Brunswick in all categories in our 2026 report card.
The 2025 Red Tape Report Card grades governments in three major areas of regulatory performance:
This year’s report card also has a bonus indicator based on government housing initiatives.
To learn more visit: cfib.ca/redtape.
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Louis-Philippe Gauthier
Vice-president, Atlantic
(506) 961-5706
louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.ca
About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members across every industry and region and 1,700 in Newfoundland and Labrador. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.