NLIS 3
August 22, 2005
(Department of Business)


Government defines targets and action plan to reduce red tape

Premier Danny Williams, along with Paul Oram, MHA for Terra Nova and Chair of the Red Tape Reduction Task Force, announced today that after extensive study and consultations, government has adopted a plan to reduce red tape throughout government. The premier announced that government has set a goal of reducing red tape by 25 per cent over three years, in an effort to provide business and citizens more efficient access to government services and programs.

�Today, our government is taking a significant step to improve the business climate in Newfoundland and Labrador,� said Premier Williams. �In our blueprint, we committed to reducing barriers to business growth within the province and to implementing strong and effective policies to promote growth and development. Our small and medium-size businesses are especially impacted by the excessive red tape in government and we want to alleviate this burden and create an environment that fosters success. By committing departments and agencies of government to reduce red tape by 25 per cent over three years, our objective is to eliminate many of the obstacles faced by businesses and residents in our province and increase our global competitiveness and attractiveness as a place to do business.�

In February 2005, the provincial government established the Red Tape Reduction Task Force to explore ways for government to reduce such things as regulations, forms, licenses, reporting and paperwork - all of which have been identified as being prohibitive to efficient business operations. Under its mandate, the committee studied numerous jurisdictions across the country and around the globe including British Columbia, New Brunswick and Ireland. The committee also met with stakeholders to receive input on how government could better streamline its operations.

After extensive research and careful analyses of which model to apply for use in this province, the Red Tape Reduction Committee agreed that the British Columbia model is the right one for Newfoundland and Labrador to base its reforms upon.

�The Government of British Columbia embarked upon an ambitious plan in 2001 to reduce red tape by 33 per cent,� said Chair Paul Oram. �Their efforts are the most recent and comprehensive of those we considered and, more importantly, the B.C. model has proven to be extremely effective. While we are adopting slightly lower targets than B.C., reforms will be based on their model and we are confident that we can achieve the success they have accomplished in such a short period of time.�

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3960 or 690-5500 elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca
Paul Oram, M.H.A. District of Terra Nova, (709) 729-0990

2005 08 22                        11:20 a.m.


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