Released on January 18, 2016
The importance of regulatory modernization was highlighted today, as the Government of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) proclaimed January 18 to 22, as Red Tape Awareness Week in the province. This week provides the opportunity to highlight the province’s efforts to reduce the regulatory burden for Saskatchewan businesses and consumers.“Our government remains committed to reducing red tape so we can improve business competitiveness as well as promote growth and innovation in Saskatchewan,” Immigration, Jobs, Skills and Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “Through our Red Tape Reduction Action Plan, we have set direction for ministries, agencies and crowns to review business regulations for impacts and costs at least once every 10 years.”
The 2014-15 Regulatory Modernization Progress Report identified more than 200 initiatives undertaken to reduce red tape in Saskatchewan. Other achievements over the past year include cost savings across government, identified through a regulatory cost model used as part of the Red Tape Reduction Action Plan. A target of $5 million in savings was established for the 2015-16 fiscal year. To date, a total of $12.4 million in savings has been achieved through regulatory changes at the Ministry of Health, Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), the Ministry of Government Relations, and SaskEnergy, SaskTel and SaskPower.
“We commend the Government of Saskatchewan for continuing to stand out as one the few provinces that has made regulatory accountability a priority,” CFIB Vice-President, Prairie and Agri-business, Marilyn Braun-Pollon said. “We are especially pleased the cost savings identified through the regulatory cost model exceeded the target set for the 2015-16 fiscal year by millions of dollars. We believe understanding the costs associated with any new regulatory proposal must be part of the decision making process.”
During the 2016 Red Tape Awareness Week, CFIB will hold a number of activities, including the issuing of its annual provincial report card, and its annual Golden Scissors award which acknowledges the work of an elected official or others in governments across Canada to reduce regulatory burdens for businesses. The following Government of Saskatchewan officials have been selected as finalists for this year’s award:
- Richelle Bourgoin, Former Director, Mission Planning and Employer Engagement, Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy: While at the Ministry of Economy, her efforts were instrumental in transitioning the manual employer application process of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) to an online process. This reduced the processing time for these applications from eight months to 10 days.
- Minister Harrison and Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner: Their joint efforts were effective in reducing interprovincial regulations on truck signage, improving internal trade between provinces.
- Regulatory modernization forms an important part of the government’s Saskatchewan Plan for Growth and its commitment to an improved business environment in the province.
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For more information, contact:
Deb Young
Economy
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4765
Email: deb.young@gov.sk.ca