CANADiANA MAR 14 1995 Alberta Government Deregulation: Back to Basics Alberta Government Caucus Task Force on Deregulation November, 1994 Prepared by the Government Caucus Task Force on Deregulation • Carol Haley, MLA, Three Hills - A irdrie (Chairman) • Murray Smith, MLA, Calgary - V arsity • Gary Freidel, MLA, Peace River • Rob Rentier, MLA, Medicine Hat • Gary Severtson, MLA, Innisfail - S ylvan Lake • Harry Sohal, MLA, Calgary - M cCall Table of Contents COMMON SENSE REGULATIONS 1 THE REVIEW PROCESS AND ITS RESULTS 2 GOVERNMENT DEREGULATION AT-A-GLANCE (CHART) 3 WHAT EACH DEPARTMENT IS DOING 5 Advanced Education and Career Development 5 Agriculture, Food and Rural Development 7 Community Development 11 Economic Development and Tourism 12 Education 14 Energy 16 Environmental Protection 19 - N atural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) Executive Council 23 - P ersonnel Administration Office (PAO) - P ublic Affairs Bureau (PAB) Family and Social Services..: 26 Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs (FIGA) 29 Health 31 Justice 34 Labour 36 -Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) Municipal Affairs 39 - A lberta Liquor Control Board (ALCB) Public Works, Supply and Services (PWSS) 45 Science and Research Authority 47 Transportation and Utilities 48 - P ublic Safety Services Treasury 53 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/albertagovernmenOOalbe_0 Common Sense Regulations From Day One, this government promised to remove the barriers and bureaucracy that make it hard for Alberta businesspeople to do what they do best - create jobs and wealth for the province of Alberta. Based on the idea that business thrives in a freer working environment, every department of government is being examined to see where red tape can be removed without compromising the health, safety, welfare and long term interests of the people of Alberta. From the smallest board to the largest department, the Government of Alberta is actively working to: • clean house - get rid of obsolete laws, regulations, policies and procedures • provide "one-window" access points for services • streamline government and speed up decision-making • give more responsibility to industry and stakeholders for standards and self-regulation • increase coordination among departments • work with other levels of government to reduce overlap and over-regulation • make deregulation part of the three-year business plans. This document is a report on the progress made to date, and provides a clear indication of how far this government intends to go toward removing government from the business of business. It is a report to you, the taxpayer and businessperson. And, it is a strong commitment to further action and consultation. You are invited to read this document and find out more about the areas of interest to you. Each department has its own action plan for deregulation, which gives more details about the directions outlined here. You can get a copy of those plans by contacting the individual departments (see Alberta Government Deregulation At-A-Glance, page 3). Your input is welcome and valuable. If y ou have something to say about Alberta's regulations and how they can be improved, call or write to us by January 1 5, 1 995. Comments can be directed to: Carol Haley, Chairman, Caucus Task Force on Deregulation MLA, Three Hills-Airdrie Room 131 Legislature Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T5K 2B6 Phone: 422-5372; Fax 427-1320. The Review Process and Its Results In May 1993, Premier Ralph Klein unveiled Seizing Opportunity, Alberta's new economic strategy. The strategy called for a review of Alberta's regulatory environment, in order to: • improve the business and investment climate, to support job creation • reduce the regulatory burden on business • reduce government costs and speed-up decision-making. Alberta Economic Development and Tourism initiated the review, consulted with more than 500 companies and industry associations, and shared the results with all departments. From this input, their own internal reviews and ongoing consultations, departments prepared draft action plans that identified legislation, regulations, policies and procedures to be streamlined or eliminated. In June of 1994, Premier Klein established the Caucus Task Force on Deregulation. Reporting to the Honourable Ken Rostad, Minister Responsible for the Alberta Government Reorganization Secretariat, the Task Force is t he coordinating agency for deregulation efforts all across government. The Task Force was given clear direction from the business and industry leaders of Alberta to: • make regulations simple and clear • focus on objectives before process • consult with industry before drafting regulations • use plain language • develop government-wide guidelines • say who is responsible and accountable for what • include sunset clauses • automatically review or eliminate regulations after a specified period • streamline and simplify government procedures, forms and application requirements • increase local autonomy while maintaining standard approaches across the province • get out of direct competition with the private sector. Working with the departments, the Caucus Task Force reviewed all deregulation efforts underway or under consideration. This report is the end result of that review: a summary of completed or recommended actions from government departments, agencies, boards and commissions - completely open to public scrutiny and further input. 2 Advanced Education Agriculture, Food • Reviewing Public Lands regula- and Career and Rural Environtiomnse, n(jtoinatlly a dPmriontiescttieorne)d. with Development Development ■ INTERNAL STREAMLINING Back ■ COMPLETED ACTIONS • Merged Alberta Agricultural ■ COMPLETED ACTIONS • Passed bills: Agriculture Development Corp. and Alberta • A mended regulations for the Financial Services Act, Dairy Hail and Crop Insurance Corp. licensing of private vocational Industry Amendment Act, Brand • Piloting Alberta Financial to school programs and removed Amendment Act, Livestock Services Corp. (ADSC)IFarm student loan default rates as a Identification Brand and Credit Corp. (FCC) alliance to criterion for license renewal for Inspection Amendment Act jointly deliver products and vocational school operators. Agriculture Statutes Repeals Act services in six rural pilot offices. Basics • I ncreased graduates' repayment (repealed nine outdated or AFSC will process agribusiness flexibility and reduced default redundant acts). loans for FCC. costs through a new income- • Deregulated wholesale milk • A malgamated meat and brand sensitive student loan repay- prices. Provided authority to inspection administration, and ment system. eliminated duplication in ■ CURRENT ACTIONS deal with stray animals on pub- administering dairy legislation. lic land. Simplified the promis- ALBERTA • Developing accountability sory note section of the feeder • A dministering Surface Rights measures and performance and Expropriation Acts through indicators for publicly funded ■ aCgUrReReEmeNnTt . ACTIONS shared staff. GOVERNMENT post-secondary institutions. • Further reviewing repeal of the © FOR MORE INFORMATION • A mending the Students Loan Federal-Provincial Farm • Ron Weisenburger Guarantee Act to reflect new Assistance Act, Wheat Board DEREGULATION risk-sharing agreements with Money Trust Act and Horned 427-2417; Fax: 427-3005 lenders. Cattle Purchases Act. • Creating additional student • Further consulting on amend- Community AT-A-GLANCE places through competition for ments to: A gricultural Societies funding under the Access Fund. Act, Bee Act, Livestock and Development • Developing more explicit selec- Livestock Products Act, Meat ■ COMPLETED ACTIONS tion criteria and performance Inspection Act and Marketing of • Standardized borrowing and standards for training and Agricultural Products Act. employment program • A mending the Irrigation District investing powers of boards contractors. Rehabilitation Endowment Fund reporting to the Minister. Act. • Passed legislation amalgamating • Further reviewing the designa- ■ FUTURE ACTIONS Recreation, Parks and Wildlife tion status of trades as request- ed by i ndustry or by provincial • Evaluate merger of Agricultural Foundation and Alberta Sport apprenticeship committees. Pests Act, Agricultural Service Council. ■ FUTURE ACTIONS Board Act, Soil Conservation • A mended Recreation and Parks • Further review and develop AAcctt., Weed Control Act and Bee Grant regulation, Libraries comparable accountability regulation, Historical Grants measures for public and private • Consolidate and simplify Amendment regulation and adult learning providers. irrigation legislation. Cultural Grants regulation. • Evaluate merger of: Crop Liens • Passed the Seniors Benefit Act • Develop a new funding formula to allocate grant funding based Priority Act, Crop Payments Act, and regulation, consolidating on productivity and performance; Livery Stable Keepers Act (or 4 programs from 3 departments consider incorporation into the into a single program. implementation in 1996-97. Personal Property Security Act). ■ CURRENT ACTIONS • Review and test Apprenticeship & Industry Training Act and • Consult on possible amend- • Combining Archaeological and ments to: A nimal Protection Act, Palaeontological Research regulations. • Review and recommend Agrologists Act, Dairy Industry Permit regulations. changes to the Policy on the Act, Veterinary Profession Act, • Repealing Guaranteed Loan Expropriation Act, Fur Farms Acquisition of Services and Selection of Contractors. Act, Line Fence Act, Marketing ■ r FeUgTulUaRtEi on .A CTIONS ■ INTERJURISDICTIONAL of Agricultural Products Act and • A mend the Amusements Act ACTIONS Stray Animals Act. and regulations. ■ INTERJURISDICTIONAL • Increasing coordination and ACTIONS • Seek input anmenddatio ns o n cm haakneg e sr e ctoom - t he reducing overlap of training, • Delegated agriculture inspectors Libraries Act. employment and income the lead role for provincial • Review recommendations of the ■ s IuNpTpoErRtN-AreLl a tSeTd R EpAroMgLrIaNmsI.N G abattoirs. Equal in Dignity and Rights • Standing Policy Committee • Decentralized decision-making reviewed recommendations of ■ r IeNpoTrEt.R JURISDICTIONAL and budget management for the Intensive Livestock ACTIONS Services to Individuals with Disabilities program (VRDP). Operations Committee. • Consulting the film industry and • S treamlining reporting process • H Deeavletlho p ionn g t haen r aeggurleaetmieonnt o fw ith ocltahsesri f ipcraotviionnc ebso a rred:. a western for private vocational schools. secondary meat processors. 9 Involving Library boards, local © FOR MORE INFORMATION • Developing a joint discussion • Linda Richardson process on the Surface Rights governtimonse anndt isn,d iv irdeulaaltse d i na s stohcei a- 427-3798; Fax: 422-5362 Act for the the Ministers of Libraries Act review. Energy and Agriculture. ■ CURRENT ACTIONS Lands Act. • Consulting Justice and other Education provinces re: amendments to • Simplifying Alberta Energy 8i • Consolidated management of Amusements Act and ■ COMPLETED ACTIONS Utilities Board (AEUB) underground storage tanks regulations. •Through the School Amendment information requirements and program under Alberta Labour. M INTERNAL STREAMLINING Act 1994, supported a system application process for spacing, • Consolidated integrated • Removed redundant sections of driven more by local expecta- production facilities and resource planning and water resource planning. Libraries regulation and Cultural tions for r esults, than by govern- industrial development permits. Grants regulation. ment regulation. • Implementing a new system to ■ CURRENT ACTIONS • Providing a one-window • Introduced full provincial fund- end government involvement • S treamlining the Commercial approach to benefits for seniors, ing of e ducation. in marketing of royalty oil. Tourism and Recreation Leasing through the new Seniors Benefit • A malgamated and deregulated • Reviewing Electrical Marketing Process for leasing of public Program. nine of 22 program grants, and Act (EEMA) with stakeholders. lands for tourism and recreation eliminated 11 grants. ■ FUTURE ACTIONS industry, and consolidating © FOR MORE INFORMATION • Reviewed printing production • Review stakeholder response to commercial recreation policies. • Joe Forsyth costs. • Reviewing and rationalizing 427-6437; Fax: 427-1689 ■ CURRENT ACTIONS the Regulatory Review work- Integrated Resource Planning book, and address items identi- • Reducing number of school fied as n eeding further review process and water resource Economic jurisdictions from 141 to 57. or change. planning systems. • Introducing one-window access ■ INTERJURISDICTIONAL • Increasing industry responsibility Development and to information on regulations, ACTIONS for forest management activity. Tourism policies, forms, handbooks and • Reached a cooperative agree- • Eliminmaetnti Anrega r Reegsutlraitcitoends , D eevxeclepotp - manuals. ment with the National Energy ■ COMPLETED ACTIONS those covering transportation/ • Considering further restructur- Board to share geologic and • Transferred Alberta Agency for ing of P rogram 2 grants. reservoir information among utility corridors. International Development to ■ FUTURE ACTIONS the oil and gas industry and the • Reviewing: Public Lands Act reg- the Wild Rose Foundation. ulations, Water Resources Act • Develop a new capital plan for Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C. • p Collairciyfi e udn dAelrb e rtthae' s A l pberrotcau rement • F1o9c9u6s a enddu c baetyioonnd . r esources in the • g Exopvleorrnimnegn t fsu.r ther opportunities prregoucleadtuiroenss,, WPirlodvliinfcei a lA c tP a raknsd Act Industrial Benefits Strategy. classroom rather than on admin- to prevent overlap or conflict of regulations, Foreign Ownership • A mended AOC Fund istration. regulatory mandates in: of Land regulations, and regulations. • Identify further deregulation - c oal mine development Preliminary Disclosure process. ■ CURRENT ACTIONS - o il sands development • Reducing Ministerial Approvals options as the three-year requested under energy • Privatizing Alberta Tourism business plan is implemented - p ipeline approvals M EFdUuTcUaRtiEo n A CCoTuInOciNlS (ATEC). ■ a InNd T EreRvJiUseRdI. SDICTIONAL - s aucrcfesasc e t ol a andn.d reclamation of NRlCegBi slation. • Repeal ATEC Act. ACTIONS ■ INTERNAL STREAMLINING • Reviewing Rules of Practice and • Consult with AGT, ED TEL and • Incorporated Alberta Petroleum Intervener Funding Guidelines. other interested parties re: the • Iton t prooldiuciceisn,g r esiggunliaftiicoannst acnhda nges Marketing Commission, Alberta ■ S FtUraTtUeRgEy. ACTIONS Alberta Telecommunications Act Oil Sands Technology and • Complete a Forest Conservation legislation within Education, and AGT Reorganization Act. Research Authority, and Alberta Health, Family and Social ■ INTERJURISDICTIONAL Oil Sands Equity into the • Complete a water management Services, and Justice to improve ACTIONS services to children with special Department of Energy. policy and legislation review. • Working with Natural Resources needs. • Merged ERCB and Public • Develop a Natural Resource Conservation Board (NRCB) to ■ INTERNAL STREAMLINING Utilities Board into the Alberta Management Policy Framework. • Continue to review reduce compliance requirements Energy and Utilities Board. • Reviewed department manuals • Eliminated progress reports for Environmental Protection and and develop a simplified, two- and recommended eliminating sDterveeaml o ppmroecnetss Pfeorr m Iintdsu s t(rIiDaPl) . aexpipsrtoixnig m arteegullya t i2o5n s p,e r p ocleincti e so f or pernohgarnecsesd r eopiol r rtesc o fvoerr y c o smcmheermceisa,l ■ E InNhTaEnRcJeUmeRnItS D IACctT I rOeNgAulLa tions. • With the AEUB, simplifing the forms. in-situ oil sands projects, and ACTIONS environmental review and about 1,200 applications per • Implementing Canada-Alberta © FOR MORE INFORMATION approval processes. • J ohn Burger ybeaattre r fioers . s weet single-well oil AAsgsreesesmmeenntt oCno o pEenrvaitrioonnm,e ntal • With Environmental Protection, streamline the Commercial 427-8217; Fax: 422-5255 © FOR MORE INFORMATION Canada-Alberta Equivalency (TCoTuRrLi)s m p r oRceecsrse.a tion Leasing Energy • 2 Pa9t7t-i5 5 M2c0C; u nFna-x:M i 2l6l3e-r8 144 Aing r reeegumleantti ng to t oexliicm isnuabtset a onvceersl ap • Brad Hubbard • With federal export market ■ COMPLETED ACTIONS pAodlmliuntiisotnr,a t ainvde CAagnraedeam-eAnltb er ttoa development (PEMD) coordina- (Energy 8i Utilities Board) ttioonr sf,or md e ivne l ospuinpgp oar jto i notf eaxppploircta - • S impluirafl igaesd, n aatdumrailn i sgtarsa t piroond u coft s n at- 297-8502; Fax: 297-8398 elimintioan otf pe o l louvteirolna p p rofe v aednmtiinoins.t ra- market development (MDAP). and enhanced oil royalty • Continuing federal- ■ INTERNAL STREAMLINING Environmental provincial initiative to programs. harmonize environmental • Streamlining the processing of • Implemented simplified well Protection small loans. spacing requirements for the oil management. • Working with the tourism and gas industry. ■ COMPLETED ACTIONS • Clarifying authority for munici- industry to make tourism • Prepared regulatory review • Implemented Environmental pal landfills and streamlining workbook that categorizes all Protection and Enhancement process for approval. occupation certification more NRCB acts, regulations and policies on Act (EPEA) and an integrated accessible and complete. energy and utilities in one of one-window approach. • Clarifying NRCB and municipal © FOR MORE INFORMATION four ways: retain, revoke, • A mended the Timber authority and approval process • Duane Pyear change, or review. Management Regulations. for major projects. 427-3627; Fax:427-1529 • Distributed workbook to stake- • Changed some procedures for holders. dispositions under the Public What Each Department is D oing ■ Advanced Education and Career Development Advanced Education and Career Development develops policies, programs and services to help adult Albertans meet their learning needs and become productive and self-sufficient members of society. Consultation and Review As part of a larger strategic planning initiative called Adult Learning: Access Through Innovation, the province's largest ever public consultation on adult learning was conducted. The resulting strategic plan will direct the department's future actions. In August 1993, consultants interviewed private providers of employment and training programs, students, and representatives of business, industry and labour. Focus groups in Edmonton and Calgary involved 36 private vocational school operators. Many of these participants were also active during the Access Through Innovation public consultations. Approximately 1,300 Albertans sent in written submissions or attended public meetings. Completed Actions The licensing process has been amended for private vocational schools, and their license status has changed from Class B to Class A. This will help private vocational schools to operate their businesses more effectively, while still protecting the interests of students and the public. Student loan default rates have been removed as a criterion for license renewal. Albertans who face barriers to employment now have access to consolidated financial assistance through the department. The Skills Development Program, operated by the Students Finance Board, assesses everyone by the same eligibility criteria and gives standard benefits. People who get social allowance are being helped to begin or return to work through training and employment programs. A new agreement with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) has produced an income-sensitive student loan repayment system. The system makes repayment options for graduates more flexible - and reduces default costs. Current Actions The department is w orking to resolve issues related to the tendering and awarding of training and employment program contracts. Contract bidders are being told specifically what results are expected. All submissions are being reviewed to ensure they meet the criteria identified in the requests for proposals. 5 The Review Process and Its Results In May 1993, Premier Ralph Klein unveiled Seizing Opportunity, Alberta's new economic strategy. The strategy called for a review of Alberta's regulatory environment, in order to: • improve the business and investment climate, to support job creation • reduce the regulatory burden on business • reduce government costs and speed-up decision-making. Alberta Economic Development and Tourism initiated the review, consulted with more than 500 companies and industry associations, and shared the results with all departments. From this input, their own internal reviews and ongoing consultations, departments prepared draft action plans that identified legislation, regulations, policies and procedures to be streamlined or eliminated. In June of 1994, Premier Klein established the Caucus Task Force on Deregulation. Reporting to the Honourable Ken Rostad, Minister Responsible for the Alberta Government Reorganization Secretariat, the Task Force is t he coordinating agency for deregulation efforts all across government. The Task Force was given clear direction from the business and industry leaders of Alberta to: • make regulations simple and clear • focus on objectives before process • consult with industry before drafting regulations • use plain language • develop government-wide guidelines • say who is responsible and accountable for what • include sunset clauses • automatically review or eliminate regulations after a specified period • streamline and simplify government procedures, forms and application requirements • increase local autonomy while maintaining standard approaches across the province • get out of direct competition with the private sector. Working with the departments, the Caucus Task Force reviewed all deregulation efforts underway or under consideration. This report is the end result of that review: a summary of completed or recommended actions from government departments, agencies, boards and commissions - completely open to public scrutiny and further input. 2