Calgary 
Alberta is once again leading the country when it comes to cutting red tape.
Credit: Bernadette Gallagher
The province earned the top overall grade in the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s 2026 Red Tape Report Card, marking its fourth straight year at the top. The annual report, released during Red Tape Awareness Week, looks at how governments manage regulation and how those choices affect small businesses.
Ontario and Nova Scotia followed closely behind, each receiving strong overall scores after continuing efforts to simplify rules and improve service standards. At the other end of the spectrum, Manitoba landed in last place with a failing grade.
CFIB points to the province’s decision to scrap its one-for-one rule in 2024 and abandon key accountability legislation as major setbacks that reduced transparency.
CFIB says the results reflect a widening gap between jurisdictions that are prioritizing regulatory reform and those that are not. With global trade pressures and rising costs already weighing on businesses, the organization argues that unnecessary rules only add to the strain.
2026 Provincial Red Tape Report Card ─ areas of regulatory performance, score and grade/Credit: CFIA
The report evaluates governments across three main areas: regulatory accountability, regulatory burden, and political commitment to reducing red tape. This year also included a bonus measure that rewards jurisdictions for publishing permit and application wait times and setting clear service standards.
Beyond Alberta’s continued dominance, the report highlights some movement elsewhere. Quebec earned praise for its two-for-one rule, which actively reduces regulation, while the federal government showed renewed momentum by launching a dedicated red tape reduction office and requiring departments to outline future reforms.
CFIB cautions that progress needs to be sustained. Promises and pilot projects, it notes, only matter if they translate into fewer delays and lower costs for businesses.
Provincial Red Tape Report Card
