In honour of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businessí (CFIB) Red Tape Awareness Week, I bring you this updated description of the creation of the universe:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. On the first day, God said, ìLet there be light.î And there was light. There was also an injunction filed on behalf of Environment Minister Diana McQueen, who ordered the creation of a panel to investigate the impact of light pollution.
On the second day, God separated the seas from the sky.
Transportation Minister Ray Danyluk immediately hired a team of planners and engineers to investigate the possibility of constructing a sea-to-sky highway. The P3 project would be a toll road named the Ray Danyluk Highway, with the public portion to be funded by a special bond issue so as to keep the expenditure off the balance sheet.
On the third day, God created land and brought forth grass, plants and fruit-bearing trees. Agriculture Minister Evan Berger immediately rescinded Godís rights as a landowner, and announced that government would seize any lands with invasive plant species.
On the fourth day, God separated day from night and created seasons.
Energy Minister Ted Morton announced that night would require a massive build up of the electrical transmission grid and signed off on a plan to triple consumerís bills without any kind of needs assessment.
On the fifth, day God created birds and sea creatures. He was immediately slapped with a stop work order as Sustainable Resource Development Minister Frank Oberle appointed a blue ribbon panel to impose a new schedule of fees for fishing licences.
On the sixth day, God created beasts, livestock, reptiles and mankind. God looked at his work and declared it to be ìvery good.î
Minister of Human Services Dave Hancock, on the other hand, issued a massive fine to God for failing to comply with Occupational Health and Safety regulations. In addition, Justice Minister Verlyn Olson requested the Human Rights Commission investigate God for failing to employ minorities during the creation of the human race.
On the seventh day, God, exhausted with dealing with Albertaís bureaucracy, rested.
Premier Alison Redford, fearing the political ramifications if God was on strike, drafted legislation to eliminate Godís position, allowing her to assume his powers.
On the eight day, Premier Redford cancelled plans for fixed election dates.
Government regulations and paper work is not just a burden on the economy, itís a job killer. Many people consider red tape to be an urban problem, but that assumption could not be further from the truth. According to a CFIB survey, Canadian farmers are the hardest hit and 23 per cent of them say that if they had known about the severity of the problem they may not have gone into business.
Red tape is such a problem for farmers that more of them (72 per cent) want government to take action on this issue than cut taxes (68 per cent). Two-thirds of farmers reported an increase in regulatory requirements over the past three years ñ and this is a period in which Conservatives ran Ottawa and the PCs ran Alberta.
Both Ottawa and Edmonton are facing severe deficits. Slaying those deficits will require spending cuts. Some of those cuts may be painful. But before the cutting begins, our governments owe us a serious crack down on red tape, making it easier for business to create jobs.
More jobs, equals more economic activity, equals smaller deficits.
Thatís the kind of common sense we expect from our farmers. Itís also the kind of common sense they expect from their governments.
