ARCHIVED: Small Business and Red Tape Reduction
The six-week consultation on reducing red tape for British Columbians is now complete. Thanks to the thoughtful participation from people throughout the province, the B.C. government has received more than 280 ideas from citizens on how to improve service delivery.
From Oct. 22 to Dec. 3, 2015 more than 5,900 people visited the website for an average of six and a half minutes. Out of that conversation, the Province received ideas to make government service delivery easier to access and simpler to use.
Several themes emerged from the consultation, including streamlining processes, improving paper and online forms and re-thinking online, phone and front counter services to meet the needs of all British Columbians, like people with disabilities and seniors. People submitted many comments about improving health-care services, making the processes around death easier, modernizing naming conventions for government identification and making it easier for people to contact the provincial government.
While comments are now closed, the website will remain active so British Columbians can continue to read the conversation. The Province will report out on the ideas and actions this spring.
Quotes:
Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction and Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch –
“I have been so impressed with the thoughtful and practical ideas people submitted. I know how hard it is to take time out of your busy day to share your experiences and I’m just so thankful to everyone who participated. I’m excited to work with my colleagues to turn your ideas into action over the coming months.”
Hugh Nielsen, hunting instructor in Campbell River –
“We all have to take ownership of making our province better. I thought it was excellent that the B.C. government gave us an opportunity to have input, instead of a bureaucrat making the decision. My idea around timelines for hunting licenses comes from my experience as a CORE hunting instructor and seeing the difficulties my students and hunting buddies face getting the proper permits. It was easy to submit my idea, and it’s great to know the Province is listening.”
(flickr.com) Quick Facts:
- The consultation was open for six weeks, from Oct. 22-Dec. 3, 2015.
- The website was visited 5,973 times during the six weeks. The average site visit was 6:28 minutes.
- The total 284 ideas includes 192 submitted as comments on the blog and 63 submitted by email.
- The hashtag #helpcutredtape was shared 514 times throughout the consultation.
- In October the Province created Red Tape Reduction Day to celebrate its annual regulatory reform efforts. The first one will be on March 2, 2016.
Learn More:
Read the conversation on the consultation website: www.gov.bc.ca/helpcutredtape
Watch the minister’s Thank-You video message to all participants: https://youtu.be/EBkwpcOJQBY
Read about some of the ways the Province has already reduced red tape for citizens and businesses:
www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/government/about-the-bc-government/regulatory-reform/pdfs/rrtbc_regreform_handout_oct2015.pdf
Achieving a Modern Regulatory Environment – Fourth Annual Report:
www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/government/about-the-bc-government/regulatory-reform/pdfs/regulatory_reform_annual_report_201415_for_web.pdf
