Luc Ferrandez, Plateau borough mayor, singled out for red tape

The Mayor of Plateau-Mont-Royal has been called out by a national business groupas the municipal leader who did the best job of making things difficult for small business owners.

In its annual red tape awards, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business pointed toProjetMontral'sLuc Ferrandezfor a rule banning plastic patio chairs that"forces restaurants with slim profit margins to spring for more stylish seats."

"The small business community is standing up in protest,"the CFIB said in a statement.

But Alex Norris, theProjetMontralcouncillor forJeanne-Mance, defendedFerrandezand his party's decision to introduce the ban on plastic chairs.

He said therules are based on the recommendations of local retailers themselves.

"The Plateau has the most beautifulterrassesanywhere in the city," he told CBC.

"One of the things we do is ban advertising on ourterrasses, we require a certain amount of greenery on ourterrasses, and yes, we don't want cheap PVC furniture on ourterrasses. It's because of these rules that we have extremely handsometerrasses."

Norris said therules have been in place since 2010, and sincethen thenumber ofterrasseson The Plateau has more than doubled.

FranoisVincent, Quebec'sprovincial affairs director for theCFIB, said the award is aimed at raising awareness among the general population that much regulation can have a negative impact on businesses.

Overall, Quebec received a B+ by the group for its attempts to cut red tape.