Alberta Record

· Order in Council / Red Tape Reduction Regulation · in-force

Red tape reduction regulation oic 205 2024

Establishes the Red Tape Reduction Regulation, creating a government-wide framework for ministries to reduce regulatory requirements, including mandatory reduction targets, reporting obligations, and principles for developing or reviewing…

High impactCentralization of powerInstitutional independenceThe public, directly

What changed

  • Establishes the Red Tape Reduction Regulation under the Red Tape Reduction Act, creating a new government-wide framework for regulatory management.
  • Defines a 'baseline count' of regulatory requirements as of February 28, 2020, and sets a 'reduction target' of 33% against this baseline for all ministries.
  • Mandates ministries to reduce regulatory requirements within two years if new instruments increase their total count, with specific removal ratios based on performance against reduction targets.
  • Requires each Minister to submit quarterly reports to the Red Tape Reduction Minister detailing regulatory reduction strategies, net changes in requirements, and direct compliance cost impacts.
  • Obligates the Red Tape Reduction Minister to prepare and publicly release an annual report on government-wide regulatory reduction efforts and their impacts.
  • Directs Ministers to consider specific principles, such as evidence of need, non-regulatory alternatives, stakeholder engagement, and cost-effectiveness, when developing or reviewing regulations.

Why it matters

  • Centralizes oversight and accountability for regulatory development and reduction under the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction.
  • Imposes a mandatory, quantifiable target for reducing the total number of regulatory requirements across all provincial ministries.
  • Establishes a 'one-in, one-out' or 'one-in, multiple-out' system for new regulations, linking new regulatory additions to mandatory removals.
  • Increases ministerial accountability through required reporting on regulatory changes, compliance costs, and adherence to reduction plans.
  • Introduces a standardized set of principles intended to guide future regulatory development, emphasizing efficiency, cost minimization, and stakeholder input.
  • Could lead to a significant reduction in the volume of provincial regulations, potentially impacting various sectors and the public.

Other governance concerns

  • Potential for reduced regulatory protections in areas such as public health, safety, and environmental standards due to reduction targets.
  • Shift of regulatory authority and oversight towards the Red Tape Reduction Minister, potentially reducing the autonomy of individual ministries.
  • Emphasis on quantitative reduction metrics may overshadow qualitative assessments of regulatory necessity and effectiveness.
  • Risk that the focus on 'direct compliance cost' may not fully account for broader societal benefits of regulations.
  • The expiry clause (August 1, 2029) introduces a sunset date for the regulation, requiring future review and potential re-enactment.

Primary sources (2)