Sask. government cutting costs of bureaucracy

The Government of Saskatchewan is celebrating another year of cutting back on bureaucracy.

The province is touting savings of more than $688 million in fees and taxes over nearly 10 years for Saskatchewan businesses through its Red Tape Reduction Committee.

Laura Ross, chair of the committee and the province’s minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, said in a release that the committee is proud to help build and protect Saskatchewan’s business community.

“This last year was another chapter of modernizing our business regulations so that our local economy continues to thrive,” Ross said. “Red tape reduction leads to further investment in our economy and creates jobs and opportunities for residents of the province.”

The committee is aiming to save businesses money through red tape reduction efforts, with goals of savings numbering $10 to $20 million annually. According to a news release from the province, the Government of Saskatchewan has met or exceeded this goal each year since the creation of the committee in 2014.

This year, the committee reviewed 208 business-related regulations and more than 18,000 compliance requirements. It reduced the number of business-related regulations by 6 — from 260 to 254.

As 2023 comes to a close, the province has remained committed to fostering a competitive business environment, which includes identifying and reducing red tape and supporting businesses. The committee also estimates and tracks costs and savings from regulatory changes and works to find new solutions.

All business regulations are intended to be reviewed at least once per decade to ensure they remain relevant, minimize regulatory burden and “maximize opportunities for innovation and economic competitiveness,” according to the release.

The red tape committee in Saskatchewan is the only active Cabinet committee of its kind in the country.