{"id":61972,"date":"2026-01-28T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaker.ca\/?p=61972"},"modified":"2026-01-28T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T15:00:00","slug":"2026-red-tape-report-card-nova-scotia-earns-an-a-grade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/?p=61972","title":{"rendered":"2026 Red Tape Report Card: Nova Scotia earns an A grade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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NOVA SCOTIA:<\/strong> Alberta has once again claimed the highest overall grade in the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)\u2019s 16th annual Red Tape Report Card<\/a>, released Jan. 28 during Red Tape Awareness Week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ontario and Nova Scotia followed closely behind through continued initiatives to improve their regulatory environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In stark contrast, Manitoba plummeted to last place with a failing grade after repealing its \u201cone-for-one\u201d rule in 2024 and refusing to restore the Regulatory Accountability Act<\/em>\u2014moves that significantly undermined transparency and progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen some governments make impressive strides towards regulatory accountability and reducing unnecessary rules, while others have slipped backwards,\u201d said Keyli Loeppky, CFIB\u2019s director of interprovincial affairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt a time when global trade tensions are squeezing entrepreneurs and making it harder to innovate and grow, cutting red tape is more critical than ever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Every unnecessary rule is another obstacle to competitiveness. This year\u2019s grades show there\u2019s still a lot of work to do to free up time and resources so business owners can focus on growing, competing, and boosting Canada\u2019s productivity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 2026 Red Tape Report Card grades<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jurisdiction<\/strong><\/td>Regulatory<\/strong>
Accountability<\/strong> (40%)<\/strong><\/td>		Regulatory <\/strong>
Burden<\/strong> (40%)<\/strong><\/td>		Political <\/strong>
 Priority<\/strong> (20%)<\/strong><\/td>		Wait times and service standards (Bonus 2%)<\/strong><\/td>Overall Score <\/strong>
 and Grade<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Alberta<\/em><\/strong><\/td>8.9<\/td>A –<\/td>9.2<\/td>A<\/td>10.0<\/td>A<\/td>5.0<\/td>9.3<\/td>A<\/td><\/tr>
Ontario<\/em><\/strong><\/td>8.9<\/td>A-<\/td>8.3<\/td>B+<\/td>10.0<\/td>A<\/td>10.0<\/td>9.1<\/td>A<\/td><\/tr>
Nova Scotia<\/em><\/strong><\/td>8.8<\/td>A-<\/td>8.5<\/td>B+<\/td>10.0<\/td>A<\/td>10.0<\/td>9.1<\/td>A<\/td><\/tr>
British Columbia<\/em><\/strong><\/td>8.9<\/td>A –<\/td>9.0<\/td>A<\/td>7.0<\/td>C<\/td>5.0<\/td>8.6<\/td>B+<\/td><\/tr>
Quebec<\/em><\/strong><\/td>8.8<\/td>A-<\/td>6.9<\/td>C<\/td>10.0<\/td>A<\/td>10.0<\/td>8.5<\/td>B+<\/td><\/tr>
Saskatchewan<\/em><\/strong><\/td>8.0<\/td>B<\/td>8.7<\/td>A-<\/td>6.5<\/td>C-<\/td>5.0<\/td>8.1<\/td>B<\/td><\/tr>
Federal<\/em><\/strong><\/td>6.6<\/td>C<\/td>7.1<\/td>C+<\/td>7.5<\/td>B-<\/td>10.0<\/td>7.2<\/td>C+<\/td><\/tr>
Prince Edward Island<\/em><\/strong><\/td>7.0<\/td>C<\/td>6.8<\/td>C<\/td>6.5<\/td>C-<\/td>5.0<\/td>6.9<\/td>C<\/td><\/tr>
New Brunswick<\/em><\/strong><\/td>6.4<\/td>C-<\/td>6.4<\/td>C-<\/td>5.5<\/td>D<\/td>0<\/td>6.2<\/td>C-<\/td><\/tr>
Manitoba<\/em><\/strong><\/td>3.0<\/td>F<\/td>6.6<\/td>C<\/td>1.0<\/td>F<\/td>0<\/td>4.1<\/td>F<\/td><\/tr>
Newfoundland and Labrador*<\/em><\/strong><\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td>NA<\/td>NA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

*Due to a change in government in Newfoundland and Labrador CFIB has assigned the province a status of \u201cNA\u201d (Not applicable) in lieu of a grade in the political priority section. As a result, the province is also marked as \u201cNA\u201d for the overall grade in this year\u2019s report card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn uncertain times, governments can\u2019t control global markets or inflation, but they can control red tape,\u201d said SeoRhin Yoo, senior policy analyst for interprovincial affairs at CFIB and report card co-author. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Every needless form, permit, or delay drives up costs and wastes time for Canadians and Canadian businesses. By simplifying rules and speeding up approvals, governments can lower costs, boost productivity, and give Canadians more time for what matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 2026 Red Tape Report Card grades governments in three major areas of regulatory performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n