WINNIPEG - JANUARY 21, 2005 - Appearing on radio in his role as Chair of the Mayor’s Red Tape Commission this morning, Councillor Franco Magnifico told listeners that the Red Tape Commission is “getting the ideas we need to improve City Hall” – and he asked citizens with red tape stories or suggestions to continue to send in ideas until January 31st, 2005.

"When we’re talking about red tape, we’re really talking about any rule, process or habit that gets in the way of better customer service at City Hall," Magnifico said. "That goal - better customer service – is the concept that’s driving everything we’ve discussed so far."

The Commission is accepting written submissions via email to noredtape@winnipeg.ca, Magnifico said, noting that "dozens of stories and red-tape fighting ideas" have been submitted through that address, through research interviews and other informal contacts. To help citizens understand where the Red Tape Commission's broad mandate will take them, Magnifico spoke about the first citizen submission the Commission received late last year.

"The very first suggestion we got was also the simplest. It was from a restaurateur who had to leave his business to pay a City bill because we wouldn’t take a credit card," Magnifico said. "We know the City has always found reasons to say no to taking credit cards for some bills, and we're here to ask the tough questions – to see if "no" is really the right answer."

The Commission is expecting a substantial series of recommendations from stakeholders by the end of January, building on a "thick package" of ideas just received last week from the Administration. "The CAO’s office – has been very helpful and supportive, and I'm confident that most City Hall workers see this as the positive initiative we expect it to be."