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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Feb. 22 to 25

Alberta announces Red Tape Reduction Awareness Week

Feb 22, 2022 | 3:05 PM

The provincial government is announcing its Red Tape Reduction Week, as part of the 13th annual Canadian Federation of Independent Business Red Tape Awareness Week from Feb. 22 to 25.

“Alberta is the best place to do business, invest, find a job or start a family and efforts to reduce red tape are only making it better,” said the province in a release.

Reducing unnecessary red tape is attributed to saving time and money for Albertans and businesses. Since the Associate Ministry of Red Tape Reduction was created in Spring 2019, the province has eliminated more than 21 per cent of its regulatory requirements and implemented changes, saving $1.2 billion.

Some of this year’s initiatives include:

• Changes to the Labour Mobility Act to enable highly-skilled certified workers from across Canada to bring their expertise to Alberta
• Adopting a “common sense, risk-based approach” on co-mingled well abandonment. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) estimated that this adoption will create $584 million in savings for the industry, while speeding up the reclamation process for gas wells.
• Establishing a competitive royalty rate for helium. The province states several small producers have expressed an interest in exploring the helium potential in southeast Alberta, with some production already underway.
• Enabling businesses to allow their tax professional to file tax documents on their behalf with the Alberta Tax and Revenue Administration.
• Eliminating the duplicative Alberta Indian Tax Exemption Card to make it easier for indigenous Albertans to access tax exempt fuel, tobacco and accommodations on-reserve.
• Expanding the range of registry services that can be accessed online including birth certificate ordering and registration, extra-provincial registration for corporations and limited partnerships across western Canada, name search report ordering, annual vehicle registration renewals, in-transit permit orders, specialty licence plate orders, standard and commercial driver’s abstracts, vehicle information reports, and duplicate vehicle registration certificates
• Making it easier and faster for producers and food manufacturers to access funds through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership grant application process. In 2020-21 the program led to more than $150 million in investment and 750 jobs.
• Promoting economic growth through tourism and community revitalization by enabling municipalities to create entertainment districts and designated public areas where adults may responsibly consume alcohol.
• Shifting industries away from multiple independent and outdated information systems to one single consolidated Digital Regulatory Assurance System for environmental regulatory applications, approvals, and long-term monitoring, reducing application processing times.

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“This week, I’m proud to acknowledge the incredible progress we’ve made to strengthen economic growth by modernizing regulations, eliminating unnecessary requirements and reducing administrative burden. But there is more work to do. I am excited about all the high-impact red tape reduction activities planned for this year that will make it easier for businesses to invest, operate, grow and drive Alberta’s Recovery Plan and economy forward,” said Tanya Fir, Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction.

The province says reducing red tape is a key part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan to create jobs, diversify the economy, and strengthen the workforce with skilled workers in all sectors of the economy.