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Thursday, 20 March 2014 15:52

Oxford MPP challenges government on red tape, hydro rates.

TORONTO -- The satisfaction level of some Oxford County businesses was part of the focus at the provincial legislature Thursday.

Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman presented some preliminary numbers from his recent voluntary business survey today at Queen's Park. One of the findings was that roughly 64 per cent of businesses who responded said they expected to stay the same size this year.

"No one that's in business really wants to be in business projecting that they're going to stay the same size. So if they can't see a light at the end of the tunnel to actually increase their growth, then there's something wrong with our economy and the environment the government creates for businesses to grow in."

One of the other red flags in the survey from Hardeman was red tape. Seventy-three per cent of respondents polled said red tape had increased over the last four years for their business, which is actually slightly higher than what local businesses reported in the last survey done in the Oxford riding by Hardeman's office.

Hardeman says one business claimed to have dealt with with up to 10 different ministries just to get something done.

Even building a barn can be a regulatory headache.

"For someone who wants to build a barn, it's not unusual for them to have to get in contact with the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the local municipality both upper and lower tier -- just to get a permit to build a livestock barn."

Hardeman challenged government to ease regulations to streamline various applications for business.

"There's got to be a better way to set government service up so when someone goes to the government to get something. Instead of having silos for every ministry, the government should have a window to approve all of it, so the person looking to apply for a permit doesn't have to do all the running around."

Speaking on high energy bills, Hardeman says there was a time when Ontario was a place businesses would invest in because of low hydro rates.

"It used to be an incentive to get investment into our province, and now we're getting to be one of the highest provinces in Canada for hydro rates. It makes getting investment more difficult."

Over 93 per cent of respondents to the business survey said they had been impacted by increasing hydro rates, while just over 43 per cent said the impact was significant.

"I want to thank all the business owners and operators who took the time to share the challenges they are facing and their suggestions on how we can create a climate that will help their business succeed," said Hardeman. "I hope the government will listen and address these concerns in the upcoming budget to ensure our businesses can grow and create jobs."

According to Hardeman's Queen's Park office, roughly 70 businesses have replied to the survey thus far.