Business group ecstatic over possibilities of UCP’s ‘red tape reduction’ plan
By COLLIN GALLANT on January 22, 2020.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com
A local business lobby group says progress by the City of Medicine Hat to speed up and smooth out how permits are issued should be applauded and perhaps standardized across the province in an effort to cut “red tape.”
The province declared this to be Red Tape Reduction week as the associate minister of examining how regulations affect business conditions highlighted progress made in 2019.
MLA Grant Hunter highlighted the efforts of the United Conservative government since it came to power last spring.
“I’m pleased with our progress, but know there is more work to do to make Alberta one of the freest and fastest moving economies in the world,” said Hunter, whose riding of Taber-Warner includes the County of Forty Mile.
On Tuesday, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business raised its subjective grade for the province to B- from an F.
The Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce is also pleased with the changes, pointing to past policy initiatives as well as an planned local event in early February when Hunter will meet local stakeholders.
“We’re very, very pleased with the government’s direction,” said Marcus Campbell, the first vice-president on the chamber’s board.
“Any time you can remove a hindrance from small business it’s a good thing. Now, we’re looking to keep the conversation going.”
Industry panels are now examining regulations in a variety of sectors, including forestry, health, safety and building codes. That’s after Bill 25, which came into force in November, led to reductions, and the public was surveyed on changes via a submission process.
Campbell said discussions that began in 2013 between the chamber and the city’s planning office have made it easier to get construction projects approved and help business prosper. He would like to see such an initiative become standard across the province.
“It’s just not the same case in other jurisdictions were building codes are interpreted differently,” he said. “We’d like to have an even playing field.”
The Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce will host Hunter on Feb. 11 for a morning roundtable and discussion session.
That breakfast event will be held at Chinook Village from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Registration is on now.
On Tuesday, Hunter highlighted the government’s dedication to the effort by citing changes to forestry management agreements and how hydroelectric facilities are managed, harmonizing regulations for service rigs with Saskatchewan, and allowing “e-transfers” to satisfy grant requirements in some cases.
Even changes to organ donation protocols and lessening restrictions on alcohol in provincial parks and music festivals were given as examples of lowering burden on citizens and businesses.
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