Continuing the fight against bureaucratic red tape

By MPP  Toby Barrett

As the Legislature gears up to return February 16, we will continue to do our best to assist Ontario business and individuals by getting government out of their way; one obstruction in particular comes to mind, red tape.

As I’ve said before, I think red tape’s only purpose is for wrapping Christmas gifts. But historically, red tape was a symbol of efficiency.

Many believe that the term “red tape” originated with the Spanish administration of Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, in the early 16th century.

King Charles used red tape to modernize the administration that was running his expansive empire. It was used to literally fasten the critical administrative files that needed immediate attention and separate them from issues that were treated in an ordinary way, which were bound with plain string.

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