N.S. gets an A on CFIB’s red tape report card, while N.B. receives a C-

A new report looks at how Maritime provinces are cutting red tape.

A new report has given Nova Scotia high marks for reducing regulatory red tape, while noting room for improvement in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business released its annual Red Tape Report Card on Wednesday.

Nova Scotia received a grade of A in the report and was one of only three provinces to receive a top score in 2026.

P.E.I. was given a C grade in the report, while New Brunswick received a C-.

Louis-Philippe Gauthier, vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses in Atlantic Canada, said Nova Scotia has consistently ranked high in the federation’s report card in recent years.

“I think that’s a testimony really to the political focus from the government and their internal teams,” said Gauthier in an interview. “They’ve done tremendous work.”

Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative government introduced the “Making Business Easier Act” last September. Premier Tim Houston promised the legislation would speed up approvals for businesses across several sectors and modernize government processes.

Gauthier said New Brunswick’s grade improved this year, but not by much.

“There are elements that we removed some points related to the political priorities present in the (New Brunswick) throne speeches and budget speeches,” he said. “There is work to do, there’s no question there, especially in the context of what’s happening with our neighbours to the south.”

A request for comment from Opportunities NB wasn’t provided on Wednesday. The Crown corporation, responsible for the development of business in New Brunswick, has previously offered comment for past federation reports where the province received higher grades in eliminating red tape.

On P.E.I., Gauthier said the provincial government allowed the Regulatory and Accountability Act to lapse, which was reflected in the Island’s C grade.

“A lot of the framework that was in place for many years, guiding the (Prince Edward Island) government on regulation, was essentially set aside,” he said.

The federation’s annual report card considered:

• regulatory accountability (whether governments are measuring regulation and setting regulatory constraints)
• regulatory burden (the number of regulatory restrictions in each jurisdiction)
• political priority (indications that red tape reduction and regulatory modernization are priorities for the government)

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