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golden scissors

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has announced the finalists for its annual Golden Scissors Award. The award honours an elected official or others in government who have shown leadership in freeing entrepreneurs from the burden of red tape.

Nominations were received from across the country and across all levels of government. The winner of the Golden Scissors Award will be unveiled on Jan. 23 at the conclusion of Red Tape Awareness Week.

The finalists for the 2015 Golden Scissors Award are:

Bertrand St-Arnaud, former Quebec Minister of Justice
Michelyne St-Laurent, Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Montmorency
Gilles Ouimet, MNA for Fabre
Rita De Santis, MNA for Bourassa-Sauvé

Red tape reduction initiative: As members of the Committee on Institutions, increasing access to small claims court for small businesses in Quebec.

Brad Wall, premier of Saskatchewan
Christy Clark, premier of British Columbia
Dave Hancock, former premier of Alberta

Red tape reduction initiative: Quickly and decisively moving to harmonize rules related to first-aid kits.

Colleen Pennington, economic development officer for the City of Penticton
Anthony Haddad
, director of Development Services

Red tape reduction initiative: Introducing a 30-day conditional business license so businesses can get started more quickly.

Dave Chomiak, minister responsible for Liquor and Gaming Control, Manitoba
Red tape reduction initiative: Updating liquor laws from 1956 and, in doing so, setting a gold standard for industry consultation.

Diana Whalen
, Minister of Finance, Nova Scotia
Red tape reduction initiative: Scrapping regulations that would have put onerous administrative requirements on scrap metal dealers.

Jean-Denis Girard
, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, regulatory streamlining and regional economic development, Quebec
Red tape reduction initiative: Creating a permanent committee on regulatory and administrative simplification.

Don Scott
, Alberta Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education
Red tape reduction initiative: Introducing the Small Business Strategy framework, including help for entrepreneurs in navigating government services and regulatory requirements.

Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Minister of National Revenue
Red tape reduction initiative: Changing tax threshold rules so 50,000 businesses can remit their taxes less frequently
Susan Truppe, MP for London North Centre.

Red tape reduction initiative: Introducing the Liaison Officer initiative, which proactively reaches out to businesses to help avoid tax-related problems.

Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary
Red tape reduction initiative: Effective measurement and reporting during the Cut Red Tape initiative.

John Marshall
, assistant Deputy Minister (Acting), Open For Business, Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
Red tape reduction initiative: Reducing the amount of paperwork required to make a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board claim by 60 per cent.