SASKATCHEWAN RELEASES REGULATORY PROGRESS REPORT DURING RED TAPE AWARENESS WEEK

The Government of Saskatchewan today proclaimed Red Tape Awareness Week January 16 to 20 and released its latest progress report detailing steps government ministries and agencies have taken to reduce red tape. The government is working toward its election promise of legislating red tape accountability measures and reporting on red tape reduction accomplishments.

"When Saskatchewan business people go to work they should be able to focus on serving customers and creating jobs, not having to wade through unnecessary red tape," Enterprise Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "We are proud to work with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) to proclaim Red Tape Awareness Week and release the Regulatory Modernization Progress Report to build on the story that Saskatchewan is a great place to do business.

"When it comes to cutting red tape, we know there is more work to do and the Government of Saskatchewan is committed to bringing forward red tape reduction legislation to make sure our regulatory system is efficient and effective."

In addition to new legislation here at home, the province continues to eliminate regulatory barriers through the New West Partnership to ensure business has unfettered access to opportunities across the partner provinces of Alberta and B.C.

Today's report is the third annual report detailing activities of government ministries and agencies as they modernize their regulations to respond to business concerns and implement a government pledge to review regulations. Ministries and agencies have been adopting lean practices and have made regulatory, legislative and policy changes in order to make Saskatchewan's regulatory regime more competitive, modern and business-friendly.

"CFIB is pleased Saskatchewan is once again the first province to proclaim Red Tape Awareness Week in the country," CFIB's Vice-President, Prairie Marilyn Braun-Pollon said. "Saskatchewan has made some significant progress in the last few years on the regulatory reform file and we look forward to becoming the second province in Canada to introduce landmark legislation to commit to red tape accountability measures, public reporting, and targets for red tape reduction in 2012."

Over the years Enterprise Saskatchewan has collaborated with CFIB to proclaim Red Tape Awareness Week. CFIB has also been providing recommendations to government, identifying regulations that the business community would like to see modernized.

CFIB will be carrying out various activities over the duration of the Red Tape Awareness Week including a Canadian Revenue Agency report card, provincial report card, golden scissors award, as well how Canadian farmers fare against the red tape.

To view the Regulatory Modernization Progress Report go to http://www.enterprisesaskatchewan.ca/regmodernization

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For more information, contact:

Tim Tororey
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-798-9906
Email: tim.tororey@enterprisesask.ca

Marilyn Braun-Pollon
CFIB
Regina
Phone: 306-757-0000
Email: marilyn.braun-pollon@cfib.ca