TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 02/19/13 -- The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue, accompanied by Laura Jones, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), took part in a round-table discussion with local businesses and CFIB members today to hear their views on improving government services to Canadian businesses.

"Our Government is committed to cutting red tape for small businesses so that they can continue to grow and create jobs. Meeting with business owners, and key national stakeholders like the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, is a valuable way for our Government to receive feedback on the quality of service delivery," said Minister Shea. "The Canada Revenue Agency continues to enhance existing features and introduce new ones so that businesses can focus more on running and growing their business, and spend less time filling out paperwork."

As part of the Harper Government's Red Tape Reduction efforts, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has introduced a number of initiatives to lighten the burden placed on small business. These initiatives include:

--  The My Business Account online enquiries service. Businesses, or their
    representatives, can ask the CRA tax-related questions about their
    accounts online and they will receive answers online in writing. 
--  A dedicated team responsible for coordinating and addressing small
    business issues. The team's mandate is to ensure the CRA takes a "small
    business lens" approach to service improvements with a renewed and
    enhanced focus on cutting red tape for small businesses.  
--  Agent ID for the CRA's business enquiries telephone service. Now, when a
    business owner calls the CRA, an agent will provide their first name, a
    number, and a regional suffix (such as O-N-T for Ontario or A-T-L for
    the Atlantic Region) at the beginning of each call. The Agent ID number
    ensures a consistent experience for callers and makes it easier for
    business owners to provide feedback on CRA services. 
--  The Group ID feature in Represent a Client. This feature lets businesses
    maintain employee access to business information through the CRA's
    online service. This means that business owners only need to fill out
    the RC59, Business Consent Form, once, addressing a key irritant for the
    business community.

Recently, Minister Shea was awarded the CFIB Golden Scissors Award for introducing measures that improve services at the CRA as part of the Harper Government's Red Tape Reduction Action Plan.

"The efforts of Minister Gail Shea are not going unnoticed by Canada's small business community," said CFIB Executive Vice-President, Laura Jones. "Her dedication to accountability, and her willingness to treat business owners as customers, is helping turn the tide in the battle against red tape."

The CRA also created a one-stop-shop Web page where businesses can now easily find information and service options relevant to their tax situation. To find out more, go to www.cra.gc.ca/businessonline.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The Minister of National Revenue, Gail Shea, accompanied by Laura Jones, Executive Vice-President of the CFIB, was in Toronto, Ontario, today to hold a roundtable discussion with CFIB members to discuss the Harper Government's progress on cutting red tape for small businesses. The Harper Government continues to support businesses through its Red Tape Reduction Action Plan, including initiatives such as the newly unveiled Agent ID for the CRA's business enquiries telephone service.

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