GOVERNMENT PROCLAIMS RED TAPE AWARENESS WEEK

The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed the week of January 10 to 14 as Red Tape Awareness Week. The week is in conjunction with a national campaign organized by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

The proclamation confirms the Saskatchewan government's commitment to ongoing regulatory improvement that will make it easier for businesses to do business while protecting public health, safety and the environment.

"Cutting red tape is not about cutting corners, but about making sure business owners can focus their time and energy on their business, rather than on processes that create frustration and delays," Enterprise Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "Our government's main objective is to lay the foundation for citizens and businesses of Saskatchewan to thrive economically, and reducing the burdens associated with red tape will provide us a competitive advantage in the global economy."

In the October 2010 Throne Speech, the government announced it would introduce a Regulatory Accountability Initiative (RAI) to cut red tape and make the province's regulatory environment more predictable and transparent. The focus will be to monitor and assess the impact of regulations on business and to use the lean process to measurably reduce processes for government and business that do not add value.

"We are continuing to streamline regulatory accountability across government and expand online tools and solutions that will make it easier for Saskatchewan businesses to comply with current regulations," Harrison said. "Our intention is that ministries, agencies and other levels of government will reduce or eliminate any redundant regulations to assist small business in the province."

"CFIB would like to congratulate Saskatchewan on being the first province to proclaim Red Tape Awareness Week in the country," Saskatchewan CFIB Vice-President Marilyn Braun-Pollon said. "Saskatchewan has made progress on reducing red tape, and we look forward to further initiatives on this front in the near future."

The government also released the second Regulatory Modernization Progress report that is available on the Enterprise Saskatchewan website at http://www.enterprisesaskatchewan.ca/Default.aspx?DN=c0893066-dbd8-44b3-bbae-1ec6c10b16ec.

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For more information, contact:

Deb Young
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6315
Email: Deb.Young@enterprisesask.ca