Mr. Speaker, I have multiple petitions to present today.
The petitioners in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford recognize that the total cost of regulation to Canadian businesses has reached $51.5 billion, with $17.9 billion of that for red tape alone. Small businesses have spent an average of 735 hours per year complying with regulatory requirements that provide little or no public benefit. Small businesses pay over five times more per employee than large firms to comply with regulation, making unnecessary red tape a major barrier to growth and a drag on Canada's productivity and competitiveness.
The petitioners therefore call upon the Government of Canada to immediately review and eliminate redundant regulations and overlapping requirements that disproportionately harm small businesses.