Red Tape Reduction Action Plan

Canada is internationally recognized as one of the best places in the world to do business. If Canada is to maintain its competitive edge, increase productivity and spur innovation, we must constantly strive to improve the conditions for doing business. The Government of Canada has made cutting red tape a key priority and after extensive input from Canadian businesses is launching one of the world's most ambitious regulatory reform packages. The Red Tape Reduction Action Plan will implement common-sense solutions to the unnecessarily frustrating and burdensome barriers identified by Canadian businesses. These solutions range from tax and payroll, to labour, transport and trade, and strike the right balance in helping businesses succeed and protecting the health and safety of Canadians. The vast majority of these changes will be implemented over the next three years.

How is this being done?

On October 1, 2012 the Government of Canada released the Red Tape Reduction Action Plan report. This action plan details the systemic regulatory reforms the government is putting in place to address the Commission’s report. These fall under three major themes:

• Reducing burden on business:
  • "One-for-One" Rule
  • Small business lens
• Making it easier to do business with regulators:
  • Interpretation policies
• Improving service and predictability:
  • Service standards
  • Forward planning
  • Annual Scorecard Report

For more information:

• Government-wide Forward Regulatory Plans
• The Cabinet Directive on Regulatory Management
• Recommendations Report: Cutting Red Tape…Freeing Business to Grow
• Red Tape Reduction Commission
• The Canada–United States Regulatory Cooperation Council
• Red Tape Tweet Chat Transcript

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and Consulting with Canadians websites.