Saskatchewan has earned another “A” grade on the Red Tape Report Card.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the province continues to make red tape reduction a top priority, which is why the province earned its second consecutive “A” grade.
CFIB’s Marilyn Braun-Pollon said Saskatchewan really has all the ingredients to always have a strong grade. “Political leadership, measurement and looking at the whole issue of clear cap on government rules. They meet all those strong criteria.”
“Saskatchewan also has the calculator to cost out individual regulations in a broad measure of regulatory requirements,”Braun-Pollon said. In 2018/19 the province calculated over $400-million in forecasted red tape savings over the next 10 years, which is well ahead of its target.
She said Saskatchewan also published a comprehensive count and annually tables a progress report showing the different savings within the ministries. “They are looking at where they can streamline, offer better customer service or reducing redundant, outdated regulations.”
She said having the province get an “A” for the second consecutive year is a great foundation. Braun-Pollon added that it’s great to see the government continuously keep cutting red tape a priority and add measures in the growth pan to have businesses invest and grow in Saskatchewan. “The fact too that the province, through the growth plan, will be appointing a business advisory panel from communities across the province to identify priorities for the province’s Red Tape Reduction Committee. I think that will also provide a strong foundation going forward.”
The CFIB added that Saskatchewan earned another great milestone with this report card. The province is also a finalist, for the eighth year in a row, for the CFIB’s Golden Scissors Award. The finalist is the Minister of Trade & Export Development Jeremy Harrison for introducing Saskatchewan’s ‘Help Cut Red Tape’ Web Portal, which lets business owners fast track their red tape concerns. The winners & honourable mentions for the Golden Scissors Award will be announced on Thursday, January 23.
