Cost of Living·LISTEN

Fuelling a post-pandemic economic recovery by eliminating red tape

A poultry farmer's run-in with cross-border rules cost him more than $200,000 dollars — an extreme example of how much money regulations can cost business. Now some are arguing a way to boost a post-pandemic recovery is to pull out those scissors to trim the red tape.

Lobby groups say too many rules and regulations can stifle businesses post-COVID

Jay MacRaild, with Calgary's Añejo Restaurant Group, shows off take-home margarita kits they were able to sell due to relaxed regulations in May 2020. (Falice Chin/CBC)

A poultry farmer's run-in with cross-border rules prior to the pandemic cost him more than $200,000 dollars — an extreme example of how much money regulations can cost business.  

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But as businesses slowly try to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are arguments that loosening some regulations could help boost economic fortunes in Canada. For example, loosened rules around alcohol sales during lockdowns could be left flexible as a boon to restaurants.

Cost of Living senior producer Jennifer Keene looks at the potential for a post-pandemic recovery if Canadian authorities pull out those oversized novelty scissors to trim the red tape. 


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