News Release Archive
ECONOMIC RENEWAL/FINANCE--CUTTING GOVERNMENT RED TAPE
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The Nova Scotia government is working with the Canadian
Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) and other business
groups to cut the red tape in which businesses sometimes
find themselves wrapped-up.
The government plans to improve the business approval
process by simplifying and consolidating permits, licenses
and approvals. The CFIB is surveying its members this week
to see how the process can best be streamlined and report
their findings back to government. A central business
registry is part of the overall initiative, which will make
dealing with the government faster and easier.
CFIB's executive director for Atlantic Canada, Peter
O'Brien, said "CFIB supports reducing the red tape and
bureaucracy imposed on business because people will spend
less time filling out forms and devote more time to the
business of making money."
The central business registry will provide simpler, more
accessible and client focused service to business through a
single service delivery window. This service will promote
greater use of technology and will eliminate, over time, the
need for business to interact with numerous departments and
agencies of government to obtain licenses and permits to do
business.
The Nova Scotia government alone currently administers over
300 permits, licenses and approvals, some of which include
environmental permits, tax permits, qualification
certificates and business registrations. Federal and
municipal requirements add another 350 such permits to this
total.
Mr. O'Brien said the CFIB will do its part by surveying its
4,000 members in Nova Scotia to determine which permits,
licenses or approvals business consider unnecessary. CFIB
will also be asking for suggestions on simplifying the
business approvals process and determining where service
levels need improvement.
At the same time, government has asked each department to
critically evaluate each license, permit, registration and
business approval with a view of identifying areas where
streamlining can be achieved, where service delivery and
response times need improvement or where the cost of
delivery outweighs the benefits.
"The business approvals process will reduce the required
number of necessary permits, converting significant time,
cost and frustration into efficiency, savings and a
satisfied customer", said Economic Renewal Minister, Robbie
Harrison. "We're taking an aggressive approach by asking
departments to either justify or eliminate their existing
processes".
Finance Minister Bernie Boudreau said that, "the licensing
and registration process is a critical interaction with
business. First impressions are lasting ones and we feel
that by providing high quality and simple processes for
business to get started and operate in Nova Scotia, other
relationships like tax administration and collection will
benefit as well".
The Economic Renewal Agency and the Department of Finance
are leading this government-wide initiative.
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Contact: Linda Laffin, ERA 902-424-6810
Peter O'Brien, CFIB 902-420-1997
trp Jan. 03, 1996
