ARCHIVED: Small Business and Red Tape Reduction
To celebrate the second annual Red Tape Reduction Day, the Province is highlighting the elimination of over 1,000 regulatory requirements and showcasing progress on more than 200 red-tape reduction initiatives.
Red tape slows down business, creates frustration and obstructs British Columbians from accessing government programs and services—that’s why B.C. is taking action. Highlights from the past year include:
- simplified probating small estates: Erin Dicks from Victoria submitted an idea through government’s Help Cut Red Tape Button to plain language online information about probating small estates after experiencing difficulties following her father’s passing. Her idea spurred the Ministry of Justice to simplify the online process by creating an innovative question and answer system to help people probate small estates themselves. The new system will launch in late 2017.
- electronic transmission of disclosure statements for credit unions: Provincially-regulated lenders, particularly credit unions, will be able to use secure internet sites to send disclosure statements electronically. The proposed changes streamline business processes for credit unions, increase efficiencies for consumers wanting electronic statements, and decrease costs associated with reducing mailing and recycling.
- enabling societies to submit and obtain records faster and more easily: The new Societies Act and online filing system, Societies Online, offers all 27,000 societies in B.C. an easier way to complete their paperwork and access historical records. Previously, there was a 40% error rate in submitted registration paperwork, however the new system has erased errors completely. Societies Online has also completely eliminated wait times for societies completing or seeking copies of their filings.
- creating Adopt BC Kids – an online adoption portal: This new system significantly reduces paperwork and enables prospective parents to post a profile of their life, home and family – in their own words. This gives adoptive kids a glimpse into what to expect, easing their transition and helping adoption workers make the right family match faster. The average wait to adopt through the ministry is currently 12-18 months; government anticipates that Adopt BC Kids will help address wait times and increase the chances of strong matches between prospective parents and waiting children. As of March 1st, more than 200 prospective parents are using Adopt BC Kids.
- streamlining access to palliative care: Reducing duplication and paperwork has made it easier for patients and family members to access medications, medical supplies and equipment for home-based end-of-life care. In fact, duplication during the process doctors use to authorize at-home palliative care has been reduced by up to 40%. These changes were supported by the Province’s LeanBC network which aims to shorten wait times, eliminate unnecessary steps for citizens and create efficiencies. In fiscal year 2015-16, savings associated with LeanBC projects were estimated at $27 million across government.
As a result of the 2015 public engagement and the creation of the ‘Help Cut Red Tape’ submission button on the government home page, the Province has received over 500 ideas from citizens on how to reduce red tape and has taken action on more than 200 of these ideas. British Columbians can follow the Province’s progress to streamline programs and services on the Help Cut Red Tape website. Some of these ideas include improvements to business training grants, enhanced information for small business owners and allowing hotels and resorts to offer a cocktail through hotel room service 24/7.
Submitting ideas to cut red tape creates real, lasting and positive changes for both the submitter and thousands of people throughout B.C. For example, the Province entered into a partnership with BC Transplant for the organ donation registry in 2015 enabling people to sign-up at all 62 Service BC locations throughout B.C. In 2016, a record 85,000 British Columbians registered to be organ donors - 31% signed up after visiting a Service BC office. Earlier this week, the Province, ICBC and BC Transplant expanded this partnership so every British Columbian visiting an ICBC driver licensing location is also asked to register their decision about organ donation.
Since 2001, B.C. has reduced its regulatory burden by over 47% and over this past year, the Province expects to eliminate over 1,000 regulatory requirements, with the new Fish and Seafood Act alone removing 491; the final total will be known at the end of this fiscal year. These reductions, along with repealing over 50 regulatory requirements, will help B.C. meet its Net Zero commitment – when one requirement is created, another is eliminated – reducing red tape for business and streamline access to services for citizens.
Some of the regulatory changes announced today include:
- updating the B.C. Guide and Service Dog Act: to simplify the process to certify qualified dogs from other provincial and state jurisdictions so people with service or guide dogs moving to or visiting B.C., can enjoy the same rights as residents with service or guide dogs;
- amending the Motor Vehicle Act: to eliminate the requirement for parents to accompany minors in-person to the drivers licencing office to obtain a BCID; and
- updating the Home Owner Grant: to align the disability provisions in the HOG Regulation with the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities and BC Income Tax Acts.
Today, the Province is also eliminating 80 fees that are obsolete due to legislative changes, the product or service being no longer available, or the products associated with the fees are available for free online, such as many BC Stat’s Monthly periodicals including Business Indicators, Consumer Price Index, Earning and Employment, Exports, Labour Force Statistics and Tourism Sector Monitor.
Quotes:
Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction –
“Red tape reduction is all about making government services and programs easier to use. This past year, we’ve simplified small estate probates, improved document sharing between credit unions and their members, and made it simpler for people with guide or service dogs coming to B.C. to have the same rights as those within B.C. By listening to British Columbians, we’ve been able to take action on more than 200 ideas to cut red tape which have led to positive changes affecting thousands of people throughout the province.”
Laura Jones, executive VP and chief strategic officer, Canadian Federation of Independent Business –
“B.C.’s Red Tape Reduction Day continues to shine a spotlight on the efforts being made by the government to reduce red-tape irritants for both citizens and businesses. Having a dedicated button where people can submit their issues and receive a response from government is exactly why CFIB honoured the government with our Golden Scissors award for reducing red tape.”
Erin Dicks, submitted an idea about probating small estates –
“I'm thrilled B.C. has acted on the idea I submitted. Many people probating small estates are trying to do so during an emotionally difficult time in their lives, and having complicated language or red tape only makes things even more difficult. The upcoming plain language question-and-answer system will reduce the stress and frustration for so many British Columbians, and at a time they need the help the most.”
Don Wright, president and CEO of Central 1 Credit Union –
“B.C. credit unions are very pleased that they can now send disclosure statements to members electronically. This regulatory change helps credit unions serve their members more quickly, efficiently and reduce costs and paper. It’s better for credit union members and for the environment.”
Jen Hillman, adoptive parent and adoption support counsellor for Adoptive Families Association of B.C. –
“I think that the most exciting aspect of Adopt BC Kids is how it lets you know what stage your application is at and what to do next in the process. The automatic matching system takes the guesswork away and connects families with kids based on their mutual interests, likes, hobbies and lifestyles. As an adoptive parent to three great kids, now 33, 31 and 25, I only wish this service had been available to us. Adopt BC Kids offers the support and information parents need to give their child a safe, educated and loving home – right at their fingertips.”
Bill Thorton, executive director of B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs –
“Changing the B.C. Guide and Service Dog Act to make it easier for people coming from out of province with guide and service dogs is spectacular. Allowing people with guide or service dogs moving to B.C., or visiting short term, to have the same rights as those who live here is an important step in ensuring equality and accessibility for all.”
Paul Lee, organ recipient —
"Our family is so grateful to our donor family – the family that gave me a second chance at life. A second chance so I could attend my son's wedding, walk my daughters down the aisle, and becoming a grandpa. Although sometimes I feel guilt that my transplant is connected to someone else's tragedy, I know that I can now honour my donor's spirit by living the best life possible and sharing my story so more transplant miracles can happen for others."
Quick Facts:
- B.C. is one of only two provinces to receive an ‘A’ grade from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) for its work to reduce red tape, and B.C. has received this grade for the last six years in a row.
- During CFIB’s Red Tape Awareness Week 2017, B.C. was given the Golden Scissors Award for leadership in cutting red tape.
- The Province has extended its commitment to a net zero increase in regulatory requirements until 2019. A net zero increase means eliminating one existing requirement when a new requirement is needed.
- B.C. has received international recognition for cutting red tape and B.C. is seeing other jurisdictions from around the globe, including the states of Illinois and Kentucky, the U.S. House of Representatives and Japan, modelling their strategies on the B.C. approach.
- B.C.’s online Help Cut Red Tape report card allows anyone to track ideas that have been submitted, and how the input is being actioned by government.
Learn More:
Have an idea to reduce red tape? Share 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
A backgrounder follows.
