Regulatory Reform in British

Columbia, Canada

OECD Workshops, Cuernavaca, Mexico

November 2014

British Columbia, Canada

British Columbia, Canada

Session 2: RIA in the Context of

regulatory policy and governance,

and experience of implementation

Regulatory Reform in British Columbia

Overview

BC’s Regulatory Reform Initiative

Organization Chart

Key Activities

Key Achievements

Implementation

5

BC’s Regulatory Reform Initiative

Since 2001, reducing red tape and reducing the regulatory burden on citizens and businesses has been a priority of the BC government.

A modern, streamlined regulatory environment is a key component of our strategy to increase BC’s economic and business competitiveness.

BC’s Regulatory Reform Initiative

Regulatory Reform BC (RRBC) provides cross-government strategic leadership for the Province’s Regulatory Reform Initiative (RRI) which has these key strategies: Reducing and capping the number of

regulatory requirements

Streamlining and simplifying requirements and business processes

Working in partnership with all levels of government

British Columbia Context

The BC program has been successful for the

past 13 years.

Goal: continue to ensure every regulatory

requirement is

necessary,

meaningful and

serves a purpose

British Columbia Context

Key objectives:

Modernize the regulatory environment

Maintain and develop clear regulations

and policy

Streamline government processes

Ensure transparency and regulatory reform

accountability

British Columbia Context

Established in 2001to help improve the business climate

by reducing regulatory burden by 1/3 in three years.

Developed a regulatory policy to measure and

determine BC’s success in reducing red tape.

The policy included specific criteria by which all

legislation, regulation, and policy would be developed.

Established the regulatory requirements count database

to track and monitor the number of requirements across

government

Increasing regulatory burden

We want to avoid:

unnecessarily complex or overlapping

regulations

excessive costs of compliance

adverse and unintended effects

inefficient use of substantial taxpayer

resources

Historic Timeline

12

2001-2006

•1/3 reduction of regulatory requirements achieved within 3 year target

•Net zero increase target established in 2004, until 2008

•Creation and maintenance of database and policy

2008-2011

•Further 10% reduction in regulatory requirements

•Net zero target further extended to 2012, then to 2015

•Citizen Centred Streamlining Projects

•Introduction of Regulatory Reporting Act

2012-2014

•National recognition as a leader in regulatory reform since 2012

•On-going database management, stakeholder liaison and publication of annual report

•Evolution of regulatory reform (Regulatory Reform Refresh) underway

Organization Chart

13

Regulatory Reform Branch Structure

Currently Regulatory Reform Branch has 5.5

staff

Executive Director (shared)

2 Directors

3 Senior Analysts

Role of Regulatory Reform Branch

Provide information, advice and training on

policy and checklist and the regulatory

requirements count.

Focus on assisting and influencing the

behaviour of agencies.

Ensure transparency in the policy process by

reporting annually on progress.

Key Achievements

We have made great strides

to reduce and cap the

number of requirements

42% reduction since 2001

Completed over 200

streamlining project since

2006

Maintained net zero

increase target to 2015

‘A’ grade in red tape

reduction for 3 years

16

Key Activities

Regulatory Reporting Act – Annual Report

Red Tape Awareness Week

Regulatory Requirements Count

Net Zero Increase Commitment – offsetting

principle

Regulatory Reform Policy and Checklist (RIA)

Strategic Panning for a Renewed Approach

17

Policy and Checklist (RIA)

Established a Regulatory Reform Policy in 2002

Based on the principles of smart regulation

Guides the development of all new and updated legislation, regulations, policies and forms.

Ensures all requirements: Are necessary,

Effects on citizens or businesses are identified and addressed,

Health, safety and the environment are protected.

18

Policy and Checklist (RIA)

Principles are part of a good policy process

Better decision-making processes should lead to better policy decisions

Aim is to ensure that regulation achieves its objectives effectively and efficiently without creating unnecessary burden

19

Regulatory Count

Maintain inventory of all regulatory requirements Including legislation, regulations, policies and forms.

Work with all ministries to track and measure regulatory burden

Ensure compliance through training and regular communication with key contacts in each ministry

Communicate progress publicly through report/website

20

Regulatory Reporting Act

BC first jurisdiction in Canada to enact regulatory reform legislation -- Regulatory Reporting Act.

Requires government to publish an annual report on progress by June 30th each year.

Purpose of the legislation: Institutionalize government’s accountability for

regulatory reform.

Increase the transparency of our progress and achievements.

Demonstrate government’s ongoing commitment to reducing the regulatory burden on citizens and businesses.

21

Implementation

Minister of State responsible for regulatory reform portfolio

All ministers are responsible and accountable for their count of requirements

Ministries forward completed and signed checklist to RRB for record purposes

Govern by influence and collaboration (no enforcement capacity)

22

Questions?

23

Regulatory Reform in British

Columbia, Canada

OECD Workshops, Cuernavaca, Mexico

November 2014