Recommendations Report - Cutting Red Tape…Freeing Business to Grow

Appendix B: Specific Departmental Recommendations to Cut Red Tape

As a result of the work of the Secretariat in engaging departments, as a Commission, we recommend that the ministers responsible for the departments and agencies listed in the following take action that would result in measurable reduction in red tape and set out clear milestones on how such actions will be achieved.

Legend

AB: Administrative burden
CB: Cumulative burden
L: Requires leadership
RD: Regulatory design
SB: Small business
ST: Short term
SV: Service

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

To improve service standards and streamline program requirements, we recommend that Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada establish streamlined application and review processes to support small business growth and development. AB, SV, SB, CB
To facilitate service standard improvements, streamlined processes and the integration of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada programs with those of other federal regulators, we recommend that the department develop a simplified approach for land processes and economic development projects. AB, SV, RD, CB

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

To reduce administrative burden and support the development, approval and distribution of new technologies, we recommend that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in collaboration with other federal regulators, develop a single-window approach through which traceability data collected under different regimes can be shared between business and government. AB, CB

Canada Border Services Agency

To reduce administrative burden associated with business reporting of trade information and to improve transparency, predictability, accountability and overall performance, we recommend that the Canada Border Services Agency simplify the process of reporting for the importing community as well as improve knowledge of the pertinent legislative and policy requirements. AB
To reduce duplication and streamline processes, we recommend that the Canada Border Services Agency expedite its efforts to enhance and harmonize its trusted trader programs with the United States with a view to, in particular, facilitating joint admission of applicants through a single application process. AB, CB
To reduce wait times and associated burden, we recommend that the Canada Border Services Agency review its eligibility requirements for the use of Free and Secure Trade (FAST) lanes at the Canada–United States border, with a view to allowing small and medium-sized business better access to this enhanced service. SV, SB, ST
To reduce businesses' frustration and provide a flexible and transparent process, we recommend that the Canada Border Services Agency develop an online tool for its trusted traders programs to speed up the application process. SV, AB
To ensure consistent service delivery, we recommend that the Canada Border Services Agency develop and implement new service standards, based on client input and feedback, and ensure that they are effectively communicated and adhered to. SV
To increase clarity, predictability and reduce duplication at the border for the movement of goods, we recommend that the Canada Border Services Agency expedite, in conjunction with other regulators, the development and implementation of a single-window initiative to simplify and integrate regulatory approval processes. CB, SV, L
To remove administrative burden on businesses, particularly paper burden, improve timelines and facilitate transactions, we recommend that the Canada Border Services Agency automate its processes for the importation of goods (including financial transactions and trade data collection). AB
To improve timeliness and simplify processes, we recommend that the Canada Border Services Agency develop a system to allow businesses to submit shipment information electronically as well as provide them with services for the pre-screening of import data for low-risk shipments prior to goods' arrival at the border, with a view to achieving expedited clearance. AB, SV

Canada Revenue Agency

To reduce administrative burden and improve the availability and clarity of tax information that businesses need to meet their reporting obligations, we recommend that the Canada Revenue Agency work with businesses to identify the specific information sources that need to be easier to obtain, clarified and simplified, as well as implement an action plan to make the required changes to improve availability and clarity. AB, SV
To reduce business frustration and related administrative burden in communicating with the Canada Revenue Agency, including not getting responses to questions or getting different responses from different agents when businesses contact the Agency by telephone, we recommend that the Canada Revenue Agency improve its business enquiries telephone line services and enhance its website based on feedback, particularly from small businesses. SV, AB, SB
To improve online service and information accessibility and clarity, we recommend that the Canada Revenue Agency:
- Increase options for electronically filing and amending information;
- Create a business landing page on its website;
- Enhance My Business Account;
- Enhance Business Number online processes;
- Enhance current electronic payment services;
- Introduce electronic communication methods;
- Accept supporting documentation and receipts from taxpayers or representatives through a secure channel (e-documents);
- Identify opportunities to streamline and enhance identity proofing and/or authentication of secure electronic services; and
- Find alternate ways of authenticating representatives who do not have a filing history in Canada. SV
To improve service and foster increased confidence in the written advice that it provides to business, we recommend that the Canada Revenue Agency develop an improved approach to communicating its accountability for the written information that it produces. SV
To improve the service and professionalism of its auditors, we recommend that the Canada Revenue Agency engage with small businesses to identify needs and solutions, including soft skills enhancement and an increased commitment to performance management and respect for the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. SV
To reduce administrative burden and eliminate the collection of redundant information, it is recommended that the Canada Revenue Agency pursue a “Tell Us Once” policy in order to reduce duplicate requests to businesses by different programs within the Agency. AB, CB
To improve the timeliness of appeals processes, it is recommended that the Canada Revenue Agency reduce the turnaround time to resolve low-complexity, non-related objections. SV
To improve the timeliness of decisions related to rulings and to better serve the needs of small businesses, we recommend that the Canada Revenue Agency eliminate the inventory backlog resulting from the harmonization of the Ontario sales taxes and adhere to a reasonable service standard thereafter. SV, SB
To reduce administrative burden, we recommend that the Canada Revenue Agency simplify and scale down reporting obligations, in consultation with business stakeholders, including combining reporting for different programs or eliminating the need to report specific data elements. AB, CB
To reduce the burden of filing frequency requirements for small businesses, we recommend that the Canada Revenue Agency engage small businesses in a sustained manner, particularly on issues related to filing and remitting frequency and take into account their realities in designing solutions to the problems identified. AB, SB
To ensure that business perspectives are fully understood and appreciated in the policy development stage, we recommend that the Canada Revenue Agency ensure that business input is obtained and considered in an open and transparent manner during policy and program development; that it identifies and responds to issues that directly impact the small business population; and that it instills and encourages a culture of partnering with external stakeholder organizations that will foster wider acceptance, understanding, and compliance related to policies and programs. RD, SB
To improve coordination of program delivery and information sharing, we recommend that the Canada Revenue Agency cooperate with other federal departments as well as provincial and territorial governments with a view to reducing cumulative burden on business for filing taxes. CB

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

To improve program performance, we recommend that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency undertake the necessary system improvements through, among other ways:
- Legislative and regulatory modernization;
- Introduction of new regulatory approaches for low-risk products, such as low-risk fertilizers;
- Increased use of electronic certification and client interfaces; and
- Streamlined approvals of such things as meat packaging and veterinary biologics. SV, RD, AB
To improve coordination among regulators in a number of areas and to reduce cumulative compliance burden, we recommend that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
- Work with the provinces through, among other ways, streamlining meat hygiene requirements, recognizing dairy equivalency, and integrating laboratory networks; and
- Work with other federal government departments to coordinate regulation of plants with novel traits, strengthen interdepartmental governance on food safety, and develop a coordinated and integrated set of requirements and approval processes for bio-safety containment. CB, RD, AB
To improve transparency and predictability and to adjust to changing industry practices, we recommend that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency work with stakeholders and other government departments through, among other ways:
- Broad legislative and regulatory renewal, including modernization and simplification of agri-food regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act;
- Achieving equivalence of Canadian and United States sanitary standards for dairy products; and
- Pursuing other regulatory improvements related to labelling and meat hygiene. RD, AB, CB
To improve service and responsiveness, we recommend that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency increase its capacity to accommodate business needs and realities by aligning its fees with the cost of providing services and linking them to service standards and adherence to those standards, as well as ensuring compatibility with trading partners and consistency across sectors. The Agency should:
- Foster a stronger service-oriented approach to dealing with regulated parties, increase professionalism, achieve greater consistency in service delivery, and improve information products and tools used to interface with regulated parties; and
- Draw more consistently on business through more effective stakeholder engagement to keep their programs current and as least burdensome on business as possible. SV, CB

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

To reduce administrative and cumulative burden on business, we recommend that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission develop and implement an annual online compliance reporting system, with appropriate guidance, to reduce the burden on its nuclear substance licensees, most of whom are small businesses. AB, SV, CB, L, SB, ST

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

To improve the quality, transparency and timeliness of service for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Student Program, we recommend that Citizenship and Immigration Canada significantly reduce wait times using electronic applications, as appropriate. AB, SB, SV, L

Department of Justice Canada

To improve the clarity and predictability of regulation for business and improve understanding of regulatory requirements, we recommend that the Department of Justice Canada continue to develop tools to foster the intelligibility of legislative texts. SV

Environment Canada

To reduce administrative burden and improve service standards, we recommend that Environment Canada develop a system to allow importers and exporters to use electronic information exchange as a first step toward a complete online tracking system for hazardous waste and recyclable materials. AB, CB, SV, L

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

To improve fisheries regulation in Canada and to reduce administrative burden, improve clarity and establish a functional framework in which aquaculture operators can thrive, we recommend that Fisheries and Oceans Canada work with the provinces and industry to improve regulatory processes related to aquaculture, with a particular emphasis on the following:
- Consolidating permit, authorization and licence processes to minimize the number of applications;
- Amending or removing certain provisions of the Management of Contaminated Fisheries Regulations, for example, eliminating the requirement to list names of workers on licences and the associated fee for changes, to reduce frequency of application; and
- Amending the administration of introductions and transfers to eliminate duplicative authorization processes. AB, SB, CB
To improve clarity, consistency and predictability for Canada's commercial fisheries, including aquaculture, we recommend that Fisheries and Oceans Canada develop clear guidance to business as well as national standards, practices and tools for managing threats to fish and fish habitat. AB, SB, CB
To improve clarity and consistency of communications with stakeholders and reduce compliance burden, we recommend that Fisheries and Oceans Canada improve the transparency, predictability and accountability of fisheries management decisions and decision-making processes, as well as standardize and strengthen the delivery of compliance programs. SV, SB
To improve coherence and consistency on a national scale, we recommend that Fisheries and Oceans Canada review existing fisheries management policies and measures, including consolidating regional and national policies into a single nationally coherent policy document that integrates regionally specific requirements. AB, CB, SB, L
To improve transparency and accountability, we recommend that Fisheries and Oceans Canada work with key federal marine transportation regulators to clearly identify roles, responsibilities and authorities, and have this information communicated to businesses. SV, CB, SB, L

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

To eliminate cumulative burden caused by duplicative requirements over the administration of exports of certain nuclear and nuclear-related goods and technology, we recommend that Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, both with overlapping jurisdiction, work together to streamline and harmonize the administrative and substantive requirements of their respective regulatory regimes. AB, CB, ST, SV
To improve service, predictability and the timeliness for the incorporation of changes to international export control regimes in domestic regulations, we recommend that Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada update its Export Control List on a more consistent basis, establish service standards to that effect, and implement a process to provide the benefits of internationally agreed upon decontrols to Canadian exporters. SV, ST, AB
To reduce compliance burden and provide greater flexibility to exporters, we recommend that Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada introduce revised risk management practices for export controls that align with actions already taken in other countries. Such a system would include the introduction of multiple general export permits covering exports of certain lower-risk items to low-risk destinations. AB, SV, ST

Health Canada

To increase predictability, timeliness and transparency of the hemp licence application and approval process, we recommend that Health Canada achieve system efficiencies in its reviewing, tracking and reporting functions, as well as improve the communication of program requirements. L
To improve service orientation and achieve greater efficiencies for Canadian growers of hemp, we recommend that Health Canada:
- Better communicate reasons for delays in processing licence applications;
- Consider revising the Industrial Hemp Regulations to increase the validity period of licences subject to notification provisions; and
- Consider revising the Industrial Hemp Regulations to optimize and streamline licence renewal requirements where feasible and appropriate. SV, RD
To improve efficiency, transparency and accountability, we recommend that Health Canada explore and implement improved IT solutions for the application and review process to obtain export permits for class B precursor chemicals. AB, L
To improve accountability and services related to the review of human drug and medical device submissions, and to respond to requests in a timely manner, we recommend that Health Canada update processes, as necessary, and meet established review performance standards. SV, L
In order to provide efficient services with respect to inquiries for licensing and the revised user fees, we recommend that Health Canada implement new service standards and post frequently asked questions on its website. SV
To improve the consistency in the application of its regulations, we recommend that Health Canada ensure that staff, particularly new staff, is adequately trained. SV
To improve transparency and communication, we recommend that Health Canada update its guidance to stakeholders regarding pre-market review of health claims on food. RD, SV, ST
To improve predictability in the application of regulations and policies for food and to improve the opportunity for businesses to input into their design and application, we recommend that Health Canada:
- Engage regularly with food manufacturers on regulations, policies and standards of relevance to them; and
- Pay particular attention to the circumstances of small and medium-sized enterprises in regulatory design. RD, CB, SV
In addition, with the same objectives in mind, we recommend that Health Canada:
- Address areas that exist in the current regulatory frameworks, including food fortification, food additive and novel food frameworks, to ensure that they support rapid response to emerging food safety issues or opportunities for innovation and growth;
- Examine areas where regulatory frameworks and approaches are out of step internationally and pose high levels of compliance burden for business relative to the risks being managed; and
- Work closely with provincial and territorial governments to identify areas where duplication and overlap can be reduced. RD, CB, SV
To remove unnecessary barriers and burden while continuing to ensure the highest level of safety for Canadians, we recommend:
- That Health Canada modernize its regulatory framework, with a move to more proportional oversight based on risk, through changes to the establishment licence regulations to support outcomes-based regulations for secure supply chains;
- Implementation of recently improved risk-based approaches to good manufacturing practices (GMPs) during drug inspection;
- Conducting quality-system-based reviews for the medical devices program and the cells, tissues and organs program; and
- Implementation of risk-based regulatory refinements to the Natural Health Products Regulations. RD, CB, AB
Also, with the same objectives in mind, we recommend that Health Canada modernize its regulatory framework, with a move to more proportional oversight based on risk, through:
- Development of a regulatory approach for “orphan drugs” (to treat rare diseases), leveraging work with the United States and other international regulatory counterparts;
- Introduction of a streamlined risk-based approach for regulatory approvals of low-risk veterinary drugs; and
- The development of a more flexible and risk-based regulatory framework for food additives. RD, CB, AB
To alleviate the financial burden that revised user fees may have on applicants, we recommend that Health Canada address pharmaceutical, biotechnology and radiopharmaceutical small business realities by providing opportunities for the remission of fees for qualifying companies (with the effect of reducing the amounts paid in relation to products that have low volumes of sales). SB, ST
To increase predictability and transparency and to improve review performance, we recommend that Health Canada accelerate and enhance upstream measures such as pre-submission and pipeline meetings with businesses (e.g., pharmaceutical companies). SV, ST
To improve transparency and communication, we recommend that Health Canada accelerate its efforts to update regulatory guidance for business and implement a single-window system involving all relevant directorates for reporting adverse drug reactions. RD, CB
To reduce administrative burden and improve service related to the review of changes to approved drugs, we recommend that Health Canada streamline its post-approval changes system and eliminate the category for minor chemistry and manufacturing changes to pharmaceuticals. AB, ST, SV
To facilitate and improve the application process for natural health products licensing, we recommend that Health Canada update its electronic tools and provide training to stakeholders on their use. SV
To improve predictability, service orientation, as well as consistency and clarity of advice and guidance to the natural health products industry, we recommend that Health Canada develop a risk-based approach to site licensing for natural health products and align quality standards with those of key international partners. RD, SV, CB
Also, with the same objectives in mind we recommend that Health Canada:
- Complete the review by February 2013 of applications received before August 2010, which are subject to the Natural Health Products (Unprocessed Product Licence Applications) Regulations;
- Modify pre-cleared labelling information on new claims and safety concerns as new information becomes available;
- Revise the standard for safety and efficacy of finished natural health products as soon as possible; and
- Improve screening and review processes. RD, SV, CB
To improve service orientation and to ensure that Health Canada can better meet the information and communications needs of its stakeholders, including business applicants, we recommend that Health Canada streamline its website to feature relevant, organized and timely information for business users. SV, L, SB, CB
To reduce cumulative burden and increase predictability we recommend that Health Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and Natural Resources Canada coordinate efforts to communicate and clarify their respective program requirements with regard to the regulation of different categories of precursor chemicals (including those used for weapons production and controlled substances).
To improve coordination, consistency and predictability in the application of regulations and policies for veterinary drug products and livestock feeds, and to minimize regulatory roadblocks, we recommend that Health Canada work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to implement a single-window approach to assist businesses in determining the appropriate pathway for the commercialization of their product. RD, CB
To reduce the administrative burden faced by applicants and regulators for the registration and amendment of registered pest control products in Canada, we recommend that Health Canada continue to review its current notification/non-notification policy with a view to reduce approval times and regulatory requirements for certain administrative and scientific changes to registered pesticides. RD, AB

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

To achieve improvements in service and consistency within the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, we recommend that Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, working with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, strengthen operational guidance, improve systems, change the assessment of wages, improve coordination via federal and/or provincial agreements, and develop a sound evaluation plan. SV
To reduce cumulative and administrative burden and improve service to businesses we recommend that Human Resources and Skills Development Canada improve the Record of Employment (ROE) processes and systems by:
- Redesigning the ROE Web application to be more user-friendly for small and medium-sized businesses, maintaining strong partnerships with large payroll service providers and the payroll software vendor community; and
- Implementing an online registration and account maintenance process for ROE Web. AB, SV, CB

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada—Labour

To examine how best to streamline business reporting requirements, including consideration of raising the employee number threshold, we recommend that a legislative review of the Employment Equity Act be undertaken. AB, RD
To reduce administrative burden, we recommend that the Labour Program of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada develop tools that would allow businesses to submit information via electronic means, or the Internet, and thus reduce the time spent on meeting reporting requirements (hazardous occurrence, or employment equity reporting). AB, CB
To improve service to the trucking industry and reduce confusion and disagreement regarding the interpretation of overtime pay requirements, we recommend that the Labour Program of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada undertake a review of related policies and guidelines. RD, ST

Industry Canada

To improve service and reduce compliance costs associated with current processing delays for, in particular, small business, we recommend that Industry Canada amend the Trade-marks Regulations to allow for electronic evidence filing, setting a prescribed period for the completion of all cross examinations for the opposition process, and harmonizing administrative procedures with other jurisdictions. AB, RD, CB
To reduce the compliance costs faced by Canadian business due to differences in regulatory requirements between Canada and its major trading partners in a number of important areas, we recommend that the Minister of Industry Canada encourage the Standards Council of Canada's efforts to achieve increased harmonization of Canadian regulatory requirements for standardization and conformity assessment with those of other key jurisdictions. AB, CB

Public Health Agency of Canada

To support its certification and import program activities regarding pathogens, we recommend that the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency jointly develop a bio-containment standard for human and animal pathogens. CB, SV, ST
To improve service delivery for laboratories working with human pathogens and toxins, we recommend that the Public Health Agency of Canada introduce an electronic information management system to support the collection, review and processing of laboratory certification requests and import permit applications. SV
To improve the understanding of bio-safety and compliance requirements by regulated parties, we recommend that the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency jointly develop and implement bio-safety training. SV, ST

Public Works and Government Services Canada

To reduce duplication in security screening processes that can impede businesses from accessing contract opportunities, we recommend that Public Works and Government Services Canada streamline the process for security screening for all of government. AB, SV, CB
To reduce duplication, volume and the complexity of paperwork required for federal procurement bids, we recommend that Public Works and Government Services Canada simplify and standardize the procurement process and minimize the amount of paperwork required from suppliers, in particular small business, and work with other departments to help them do the same. AB, SV, SB
To eliminate excess administrative burden and ensure government contracting opportunities are easily accessible for suppliers, we recommend that Public Works and Government Services Canada evaluate the government electronic tendering service, currently the Open Bidding Service (MERX), and develop a single-point-of-entry no-cost option for Government of Canada procurement information before the current arrangements expire. SV, AB

Statistics Canada

To reduce the administrative burden of Statistics Canada's business surveys on stakeholders, we recommend that Statistics Canada implement measures to reduce compliance costs such as optimizing sample size and follow-ups, reducing content for small businesses, and examining the impact and feasibility of limiting the number of questionnaires sent to a small business as well as the period in which a small business must remain in a survey sample. AB, SB
To reduce redundancy in requests for financial and/or payroll information by different federal departments or agencies, we recommend that Statistics Canada collaborate with the Canada Revenue Agency to further substitute financial survey data with tax data, and review current information collection activities to eliminate redundancy as well collaborate with other federal government departments to align and coordinate information needs, regardless of purpose, with the objective of collecting any information element once and only once. CB, AB
To reduce business frustration, we recommend that Statistics Canada:
- Review and update its communications methods with survey respondents to assist their understanding of the links between the information collected from them and the benefits of its uses;
- Better convey the survey importance to survey participants;
- Enhance its website and improve the visibility and content of information tailored to inform survey participants; and
- Engage small business associations to communicate the benefits of surveys. SV, SB
To reduce administrative burden associated with Statistics Canada's data collection methods and practices, we recommend that Statistics Canada implement Web-based data collection methods, allowing, when appropriate, information from the previous collection period to be pre-populated to reduce burden and requiring only the participant's validation. AB, SV

Transport Canada

To eliminate administrative burden on small businesses, we recommend that Transport Canada implement plans to exempt small businesses that use smaller trucks locally from the administrative requirements in relation to hours of service (including the maintenance of logbooks). AB, SB
To increase the uniformity in the enforcement of the transport of dangerous goods regulatory regime and reduce administrative burden, we recommend that Transport Canada accelerate initiatives designed to effect improvement in the consistency of application of program delivery and their communication to regulated parties. CB, AB
To provide a predictable and uniform business environment across Canada for the trucking industry and to reduce current compliance burden and associated costs, we recommend that Transport Canada engage its provincial and territorial counterparts with concrete proposals to advance the harmonization of regulations that pertain to the National Safety Code (including hours of service). The department should aim to eliminate unnecessary compliance burden on inter-provincial truck commerce stemming from differences in regulatory requirements across jurisdictions. CB, AB, L
To provide businesses with greater certainty and predictability through reasonable timelines and service standards, we recommend that Transport Canada streamline its processing of exemptions under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act. ST, SV
To alleviate current compliance and paperwork burden on smaller recreational vehicle (RV) dealers, we recommend that Transport Canada, in consultation with industry stakeholders and taking into account the impact on small businesses, streamline the pre-clearance process for RV importation to effect a reduction in administrative burden on smaller dealers, and focus regulatory activities on a smaller number of larger Canadian RV importers with established expertise. AB, SB, ST
To improve business understanding of regulations related to the recreational vehicle (RV) industry and to reduce corresponding compliance burden, we recommend that Transport Canada improve communication to stakeholders regarding current pre-clearance program requirements for RV importation, including through modifications to its website, and ensure that future changes to the program be communicated clearly and in advance of implementation. SV, ST
To reduce administrative burden and more effectively account for the realities of smaller aviation maintenance operations and their capacity to meet regulatory requirements, we recommend that Transport Canada review quality assurance requirements for aviation maintenance operations. In doing this, the department should ensure that a performance-based approach is applied for businesses and that clear guidance is given in terms of expectations, particularly as it relates to the size of the operation. SV, SB, AB
To reduce the compliance burden on airport authorities related to lease monitoring, we recommend that Transport Canada complete the implementation of its risk management strategy with a view to reduce red tape for airport authorities, notably in reduced frequency of certain audits. AB, ST
In order to improve services to businesses and to ensure consistent and standardized service delivery across Canada, we recommend that Transport Canada review, update and implement service standards, as well as promote clear communication of those standards, such as through an improved website. SV
To provide flexibility and reduce costs, we recommend that Transport Canada amend the Marine Transportation Security Regulations to clarify that regulated Canadian-flagged vessels, while on a domestic voyage, may interface with either regulated or unregulated ports and marine facilities, with a view to increasing business competitiveness. RD
In order to minimize compliance burden on business, we recommend that Transport Canada propose amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act to exempt certain minor projects and certain waters that have minimal utility for navigation from its application. The department should aim to reduce the number of projects subject to the legislation and requiring applications, as well as improve the response times for processing applications and provide a more predictable framework for business and investors. RD, AB, SV
To reduce compliance burden on small business, we recommend that Transport Canada proceed on an expedited basis with the planned risk-based modernization of its small fishing vessel regulatory regime, with particular focus on removing excessive requirements and oversight where risks inherent to the operation are low. AB, SB