Nobody likes red-tape, particularly not the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
This week, the Government of Saskatchewan jumped on the CFIB anti-red-tape bandwagon by proclaiming January 18 to 22 Red Tape Awareness Week.
Eliminating unnecessary red tape is a laudable goal. The key word here, however, is ‘unnecessary.’ Before we throw out the baby with the bath water, it is important to be clear on what we are talking about.
Red tape is a euphemism for regulation. The Province’s own euphemism is “regulatory modernization.”
One of, if not the most important functions of government is regulation. It prevents builders from constructing dangerous structures; it keeps industrialists companies from contaminating water resources; it stops employers from abusing their employees; and it ensures an even playing field for all irrespective of race, religion or creed.
Of course, it is not perfect because people are not always as scrupulous as we would like them to be. That is why regulations also create the framework to punish and or mitigate/rectify abuses.
Small- and medium-sized businesses are indeed the drivers of the economy and the News Review agrees that the Province should be doing what it can to ease the burden of unnecessary red tape, but not at the expense of important safety and environmental protections.
It would be really nice if we could simply trust all businesses to be fair and accountable, but history teaches us we simply cannot.
CFIB gives Saskatchewan a “B” grade for deregulation, which is all fine and good, but this organization is basically a special interest group. Where is the independent analysis of the government’s efforts?
It is not an easy task. The Province’s latest Annual Regulatory Modernization Report (the Report) contains more than 200 red-tape reducing initiatives, many of which are as clear as mud as to whether they are good or bad.
Some are obviously positive, common sense measures, such as eliminating the inspection requirement for vehicles coming from Alberta and B.C. providing they are not rebuilt, are under four years old or have an inspection certificate from a recognized source that is less than 90 days old.
Others are more concerning, such as the Conservation Easements Amendment Act. The rationale for this change according to the Report was: “It was difficult for conservation easement holders and grantors to make changes to existing easements in an efficient and cost-effective fashion.”
It would seem, in this case, making it difficult was the whole point so as protect natural areas from damaging economic activity.
For the public, Red Tape Awareness Week should be as much about holding the government accountable for its deregulatory activities as it is about celebrating the CFIB’s positive opinion.
Again, reducing red tape is not necessarily good or bad. It is about balance. Leaving something for future generations is just as important as Immigration, Jobs, Skills and Training Minister Jeremy Harrison’s stated goal to “improve business competitiveness as well as promote growth and innovation in Saskatchewan.”
