B.C. now can cut through red tape with a pair of golden scissors after winning a prestigious award from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

The Province of British Columbia was selected as the winner among dozens of nominations from across Canada for its leadership and accomplishments in cutting red tape.

CFIB vice-president Laura Jones today presented Premier Christy Clark and Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction Coralee Oakes the Golden Scissors Award in recognition of the Province’s commitment to cutting red tape for citizens and small businesses.

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B.C. received specific recognition for leadership, officially legislating Red Tape Reduction Day on the first Wednesday of every March to highlight the Province’s commitment to regulatory reform. On the inaugural Red Tape Reduction Day in March 2016, the Province repealed 37 unnecessary and outdated regulations, committed to over 60 actions to cut red tape based on ideas from British Columbians, and launched the Help Cut Red Tape suggestion button so that British Columbians can continue sharing their ideas on how to cut red tape 24/7, 365.

The following achievements contributed to B.C. being acknowledged nationally for streamlining government programs services and clearing the path for businesses:

• creating a ministry to lead small business promotion and red tape reduction in B.C.;
• completing a provincewide public engagement to gather ideas from British Columbians about how government should cut red tape;
• extending B.C.’s net zero increase commitment to 2019 to ensure the Province’s regulatory requirements does not increase;
• legislating the Province to annually report out on regulatory reform. This is accomplished through the Annual Regulatory Reform Report released by June 30 each year;
• committing to reducing red tape in all facets of government through inclusion of cutting red tape in each minister’s mandate letters; and
• bolstering red tape reduction resources across government by integrating the LeanBC team into the Ministry of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction.

The Help Cut Red Tape submission button and the public engagement session have generated over 500 ideas from British Columbians since fall 2015. The Province has taken substantive action on almost 200 of those ideas so far, and is continuing to explore options for implementing even more of them.

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The Province is taking action based on ideas to cut red tape from British Columbians, including:

• creating onRouteBC, an innovative online resource allowing commercial carriers to apply for trucking licences and permits online;
• requiring changes to provincial legislation, regulations, policies and forms at all government ministries to consider the implications for small businesses; and
• simplifying employer and volunteer criminal record checks by allowing a single check to stand for a five-year period to avoid individual applications.

In 2017, the Province will continue to implement ideas suggested by the public through the Help Cut Red Tape button by working with the ministries responsible. Anyone can track the status of ideas they have submitted, or see other ideas, on B.C.’s Help Cut Red Tape website, as each idea is given its own space on the website where anyone can view it.

Quotes:

Premier Christy Clark –

“Whether you are new to the province, seeking social assistance, or starting a business, all British Columbians expect and deserve efficient government services. We remain focused on cutting unnecessary red tape, and making every interaction with the provincial government as timely and productive as possible.”

Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction and Chair of the B.C. Small Business Roundtable –

“B.C. is honoured to receive the Golden Scissors award from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for our accomplishments in cutting red tape. These achievements wouldn’t be possible without the hundreds of ideas we’ve received directly from British Columbians whose suggestions are making government services faster, easier to access, and simpler to use – and we are looking forward to seeing more of these great ideas from all across the province.”

Laura Jones, vice-president , Canadian Federation of Independent Business –

“B.C. deserves our highest recognition for becoming the first jurisdiction in North America to legislate an annual Red Tape Reduction Day dedicated to repealing outdated regulations and improving government customer service. B.C. continues to shine the light on the issue of red tape and remains a leader in North America.”

Quick Facts:

• The CFIB Golden Scissor Awards are given to the person or place who best shows leadership and has made meaningful and positive results in cutting red tape.
• B.C. has cut the regulatory burden by 47% since 2001, making sure all rules and regulations are streamlined and necessary.
• To keep the regulatory burden low, B.C. introduced a Net Zero Increase Commitment in 2004 and committed to keeping it to 2019. This means removing a regulatory requirement when one is added.
• B.C. has received international recognition for cutting red tape. Other jurisdictions from around the globe, including Kentucky, Illinois, the U.S. House of Representatives and Japan are developing red tape reduction measures based on B.C.

Learn More:

Have an idea to cut red tape? Submit it here: https://forms.gov.bc.ca/help-reduce-red-tape/

Regulatory reform in B.C.: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/regulatory-reform

Canadian Federation of Independent Business: http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/english/index.html