ARCHIVED: Small Business and Red Tape Reduction
The B.C. government has announced Red Tape Reduction Day to be observed every year on the first Wednesday of March reinforcing its ongoing commitment to reduce red tape and administrative burden for citizens and businesses.
Reducing the regulatory burden is critical to ensuring British Columbia’s economic competitiveness and to providing citizens with high-quality government services and programs. It makes it easier for small business to do business, and removes frustration for citizens, by streamlining and modernizing government services to make them easier to access and simpler to use.
B.C. is a recognized leader in regulatory reform. Each year, since 2001, government has undertaken streamlining initiatives to reduce the overall regulatory burden by changing processes, forms, and government websites, and by modernizing regulations to make it easier for business and citizens to deal with government. The new legislation institutionalizes the accountability and transparency of regulatory reform and makes B.C. the only province in Canada with a Red Tape Reduction Day.
Government is taking the same principles and applying those to a process that will invite British Columbians to submit ideas to streamline how they use or access services they depend on. In October, the Province will launch a public engagement opportunity inviting British Columbians – who are the experts when it comes to using and accessing government services – to share their ideas about simple fixes that can help to make services easier to access and simpler to use. All suggestions will be considered with the goal of affordable service improvement and may lead to changes in government policies, programs, and regulations.
Quote:
Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction and Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch –
“I am working to put in place the conditions that support people to succeed – conditions that involve making life easier and providing better, more efficient services for citizens. Red Tape Reduction Day is a strong incentive to keep red tape reduction a priority and lowers the risk that the number of regulations will slowly creep back over time. Since 2001, we have reduced regulatory requirements by 43%.”
Quick facts:
- In 2014, the B.C. government cut more than 1,700 regulatory requirements.
- B.C. has renewed its commitment to a net zero increase in regulatory requirements through to 2019.
- More than 200 red tape reduction projects have been completed with many more underway.
- Since 2001, the B.C. government has cut regulatory requirements on business and citizens by 43%.
- For the past four years, B.C. has received an ‘A’ grade from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for cutting red tape – the only jurisdiction in Canada to receive this grade.
Reviewing and assessing provincial regulations means:
- Outdated and counterproductive regulations are removed from legislation.
- It will be easier for business and citizens to understand what is required of them when accessing government services.
- Entrepreneurs can redirect valuable time and resources into the development and expansion of their businesses, instead of adhering to outdated and unnecessary regulations.
- Improved and modernized processes will save citizens time, money and frustration when searching for and using government services.
- A straightforward regulatory regime will encourage more businesses to invest in British Columbia.
Learn more:
Reducing Red Tape for British Columbians Engagement: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/helpcutredtape/
Reducing Red Tape for British Columbians Handout: www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/government/about-the-bc-government/regulatory-reform/pdfs/7_rrtbc_regreform_handout_final.pdf
Red Tape Reduction in B.C.: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/regulatory-reform/red-tape-reduction
Achieving a Modern Regulatory Environment – 4th Annual Report: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/government/about-the-bc-government/regulatory-reform/pdfs/regulatory_reform_annual_report_201415_for_web.pdf
