The co-chair of the Ontario Red Tape Commission met with local business owners at La Place Rendez-Vous here last Thursday to tell them about its goals and to hear their concerns.
“The Red Tape Commission is about making the interface between you, the taxpayer, and the government a little easier,” Frank Sheehan told those on hand for the luncheon.
Red tape, he said, includes “approvals, procedures, filings, paper work,” as well as any unnecessary rules and regulations that get in the way of doing business.
“The Fraser Institute estimates it takes six hours a week for a small businessman to deal with red tape, and costs $12,000 a year for a family of four,” he remarked.
Sheehan also talked at some length about the commission’s achievements. In tourism, for instance, it has eliminated the need for annual tourism licenses for more than 2,500 establishments.
It also has eliminated the Employer Health Tax for 270,000 businesses.
In the entertainment industry, the commission has eliminated an outdated regulation requiring film projectionists to have 400 hours of training—more than what is required to get a basic pilot’s licence.
The commission not only examines existing regulations to test their effectiveness, but reviews proposed legislation to ensure it follows the commission’s Principles of Good Regulation.
These principles include a focus on objectives and outcomes rather than process; harmonizing proposed measures with existing standards; and ensuring regulatory actions are consistent with the government’s priorities, core businesses, and the public interest.
All regulatory proposals must include a “sunset” or performance review date. This is important in instances such as the requirement regarding film projectionist training, where the regulations are not up-to-date with modern technology.
While the commission seeks to erase unnecessary or redundant regulations, Sheehan stressed this is not done at the expense of health and safety.
“Anything related to environment, health, and safety are always held at a very high level, but that doesn’t mean regulations surrounding those areas can’t be practical,” he said.
“These are not mutually exclusive concepts.”
Sheehan also stressed the importance of the reduction of red tape at the municipal level.
“Try to make [town councillors] conscious of the impact of regulations on your business and on your community,” Sheehan urged.
Tannis Drysdale, president of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce and a candidate for town council in November’s election, said she would like to see a Red Tape Committee formed in Fort Frances.
Such a committee, made up of members of the local Chamber of Commerce, the Business Improvement Association, town council, as well as town administration and citizens, would review all the town’s bylaws—using principles similar to those followed by the provincial commission.
It also would listen to the concerns of local citizens who have encountered difficulties because of certain bylaws.
“We’d end up with a much more streamlined process,” Drysdale said. “It would take a little time, but it would make it a little easier to do business.”
Sheehan also met with the Northwestern Ontario Tourism Association (NWOTA) in Emo and the Rainy River District Municipal Association in Stratton later Thursday.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
