The government of British Columbia has delivered on a commitment to be the first jurisdiction in Canada to produce an annual public report on regulatory reform.

British Columbia's regulatory reform initiative is designed to improve the lives of all British Columbians by eliminating unnecessary red tape, minimizing the time and cost for business and citizens accessing government services or complying with regulatory requirements.

B.C.'s streamlined regulatory environment attracts new investments to the province and encourages growth and innovation in the business community, creating new jobs that benefit all regions of the province.

Under the Regulatory Reporting Act, enacted in November 2011, the government of B.C. made it a legislative requirement to present annual public reports on its regulatory reform progress no later than June of each year.

The report was posted today at: http://www.straightforwardbc.gov.bc.ca/docs/Reg_Reform_Report_2012.pdf

The B.C. government's regulatory reform initiative aims to improve regulatory systems on the following four fronts:

• Reducing and capping the number of regulatory requirements, while maintaining those that protect health, safety and the environment.

• Streamlining, clarifying and simplifying regulatory requirements and related business processes to reduce the time and cost of compliance and of accessing government information and services.

• Establishing a policy of open government and open information to expand access to government information and provide opportunities for citizens to participate in finding solutions.

• Working with federal, provincial and local governments to reduce duplication and establish coordinated and efficient processes.

B.C. is the only jurisdiction in Canada so far, to enact regulatory reform legislation and has reduced regulatory requirements by more than 42 per cent since 2001.

The B.C. government's continuing leadership in regulatory reform has been widely recognized, including high marks from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), which awarded the Province an "A", the highest provincial score, in its annual provincial report in January 2012.

Quotes:

Minister of Finance, Deputy to the Premier and Minister Responsible for Regulatory Reform, Kevin Falcon -

"We've come a long way in eleven years of regulatory reform in British Columbia. This first annual report represents another important landmark in our leadership in improving the regulatory environment for business and the public.

"We're sending a clear signal to the investment community that red tape will not get in the way of investment, jobs and opportunities that are significant and beneficial to British Columbians. This report is part of our promise to meet the high standards of accountability that keep B.C. at the leading edge of responsible regulation."

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell -

"We are making it easier for British Columbians to do business with government, so they can dedicate more time to improving their businesses and less time filling out paper work. We are also making it simpler for entrepreneurs to start a new business, which creates jobs that support more B.C. families."

Laura Jones, executive vice-president -

Canadian Federation of Independent Business -

"Business spoke and government listened. The B.C. government continues to be a leader in regulatory reform that supports the entrepreneurs and businesses that drive our economy. We congratulate the ministers for serving as role models for other governments across Canada."

Quick Facts:

Since 2001, B.C. has reduced regulatory requirements by more than 42 per cent.

• Number of regulatory requirements in 2001: 360,295.

• Number of regulatory requirements today: 206,049.

• This exceeds government's original target of reducing regulatory requirements by 33 per cent.

Media contact:

Jamie Edwardson
Communications Director
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821