What is the Red Tape Reduction Commission?

The Government is taking action to reduce the red tape burden on Canadian businesses.

Delivering on the commitment announced in Budget 2010, the Government of Canada created the Red Tape Reduction Commission with the following mandate:

• Identify irritants to business that stem from federal regulatory requirements and review how those requirements are administered in order to reduce the compliance burden on businesses, especially small businesses. The focus is on irritants that have a clear detrimental effect on growth, competitiveness and innovation; and
• Recommend options that address the irritants and that will control and reduce the compliance burden on a long-term basis while ensuring that the environment and the health and safety of Canadians are not compromised in the process.

The overall lead minister for this exercise is the Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board and responsible for FedNor. The Commission was chaired by the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism).

How did the Commission work?

The Commission built on past and ongoing Government initiatives to reduce regulatory compliance burden on business in Canada. It took a client-centered approach to reducing red tape.

To hear directly from those most affected by red tape, particularly small business owners, the Commission scheduled consultation round tables across Canada from December 2010 to March 2011. At the same time, an online consultation allowed a wide range of Canadians in the business community to provide input to the Commission.

Consultations

The Red Tape Reduction Commission was created to listen to the concerns of Canadian businesses, in person and online.

The Commission gathered input on how red tape is hampering your business to identify practical solutions.

The Commission's ultimate objective was to provide advice to the Government to reduce the regulatory compliance burden on businesses in cases where that compliance is inhibiting growth, productivity, and innovation, and to ensure that the environment and the health and safety of Canadians are not compromised in the process. Some of the key areas the Commission examined include:

• Reducing administrative burden;
• Improving service by Government;
• Enhancing coordination and cooperation;
• Addressing specific needs of small business; and
• Addressing cumulative burden.

By reducing red tape, we can create the right climate for small businesses to grow and succeed in Canada.

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