The sa国际传媒 Liberal government has been slashing at red tape like St. George going after dragons, but now the regulation-cutters have been moved up a notch. They have a ministry of their own.
Let鈥檚 hope it will be as good for ordinary British Columbians as it seems to be for businesses.
In the latest cabinet shuffle, Coralee Oakes was named minister of small business and red-tape reduction, as well as being minister responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch.
Cutting red tape has been on the sa国际传媒 Liberals鈥� agenda since they were elected in 2001. Under the 鈥渘et zero increase commitment,鈥� any time a new regulation is introduced, an existing one has to be wiped out. The overall number of regulatory requirements is not allowed to increase until 2019.
A bright-red graphic on the ministry鈥檚 website announces that the government has reduced the number of regulatory requirements by 43 per cent since 2001.
The purpose of the project is to: 鈥淩educe the length of processes and the time waiting for decisions; eliminate duplication; improve access and increase online services; reduce the time and cost for the public, business and government.鈥�
The work has been led by the Regulatory Reform Branch, which had fallen under the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, but is now elevated to get into the name of a ministry. Does that mean the government is getting even more serious about cutting red tape?
It鈥檚 hard to argue about the benefits of reducing unnecessary regulation. Most of us groan under the burden of rules that seem to serve no useful purpose.
Businesses have long complained about the complicated rules that slow decision-making and drive up costs. Their concerns seem to be the biggest driver behind the campaign, rather than a desire to ease the regulatory load on ordinary British Columbians.
Certainly, the government has not stopped making rules. While approvals for natural-resource projects have been streamlined and forestry licences have been rationalized, the government has found other places to shine its regulatory spotlight.
Some regulations have obvious benefits for ordinary British Columbians. After the explosions at the Lakeland and Babine lumber mills, the province toughened up workplace-safety rules and improved the way accidents are investigated.
The province is also creating common standards for home inspectors, to end the confusion produced by four different licensing associations.
The administrative penalties that target people who drink and drive have had a dramatic effect in reducing deaths attributed to impaired driving.
On the other hand, teens have been forbidden to roast themselves in tanning salons. Couples who live together for more than two years are now effectively married, like it or not. Were these really areas that required the hand of government?
If we think that government intrusion into businesses interferes with decision-making, intrusion into the personal realm should also be done only after careful consideration. We cannot regulate against every poor decision in the home, any more than we can do so in business.
The red-tape team promises: 鈥淲e want to make it easier and faster for you to deal with government. We support clear, simple regulations without compromising public health, safety or the environment.鈥�
Those are laudable goals. Let鈥檚 see if the red-tape weavers are in tune with the red-tape cutters.
