By Canadian Press

CUTTING RED TAPE

UCP introduces Red Tape Reduction Act

May 30, 2019 | 7:58 AM

EDMONTON- The Kenney government has introduced legislation to slash what it calls unnecessary regulations hindering economic growth and business development.

Premier Kenney symbolically used scissors to cut a line of red tape at a factory south of Edmonton to highlight Bill 4, the Red Tape Reduction Act.

“We’re going to take Alberta from being the most over-regulated to the freest economy in Canada. We aren’t just saying we’re reducing red tape – we are making it the law. We are committed to cutting red tape by one-third–and once we cut it, we will prevent new red tape from creeping back.” says Kenney.

The premier campaigned on reducing regulations by one-third over four years, and has appointed Grant Hunter as the associate minister in charge of the project.

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Alberta will follow a similar reduction plan launched almost two decades ago in British Columbia.

Starting in 2001, B.C. reduced more than 330,000 regulatory requirements by 40% over three years, and since then it’s down to about 50% of that original figure.

Kenney says the bill is also part of a broader initiative to reduce duplication and unnecessary rules across government, in the non-profit sector, and for municipalities.

The NDP Opposition says the legislation should contain safeguards to ensure that the public welfare is not sacrificed while growing the economy.

It notes the bill doesn’t even define what red tape is.

(The Canadian Press)