Red Tape Reduction Act

RED TAPE REDUCTION ACT Chapter R‑8.2 Table of Contents 1 Definitions 1.1 Reduction of regulatory requirements 1.2 Information relating to regulatory requirements 2 Annual report 2.1 Immunity 3 Power to amend regulations 4 Regulations Preamble WHEREAS the Government of Alberta recognizes that a consistent, transparent and efficient system of regulatory requirements is necessary to protect the health and safety of Albertans, support consumer protection, protect the environment and promote fiscal accountability; WHEREAS some regulatory requirements result in unnecessary costs for Albertans in terms of time, money or other resources, putting burdens on individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and public sector organizations; WHEREAS addressing the regulatory requirements that cause these burdens will enable economic growth, innovation and competitiveness and facilitate a strong investment climate in Alberta, supporting job creation and improving service delivery for Albertans; and WHEREAS the Government of Alberta is committed to ensuring that regulatory requirements are reduced over time and that there is no increase in the total number of regulatory requirements applicable to stakeholders; THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows: Definitions 1 In this Act, (a) “Minister” means a member of the Executive Council; (b) “ministry” means a department administered by a Minister and any public agency for which that Minister is responsible; (c) “public agency” means a public agency as defined in the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act ; (d) “Red Tape Reduction Minister” means the Minister determined under section 16 of the Government Organization Act as the Minister responsible for this Act; (e) “regulation” means a regulation to which the Regulations Act applies; (f) “regulatory instrument” means (i) an Act, (ii) a regulation, or (iii) a policy or form made by a ministry, but does not include a regulatory instrument prescribed by the regulations; (g) “regulatory requirement” means a requirement in a regulatory instrument that must be met in order for a stakeholder to access a program or service provided by a ministry, carry on business or participate in a regulated activity but does not include a regulatory requirement prescribed by the regulations; (h) “stakeholder” means a person or entity, including an individual, business, non‑profit organization or public sector organization, that is required to comply with a regulatory requirement. 2019 cR-8.2 s1;2024 c7 s12 Reduction of regulatory requirements 1.1 (1) Where the making or enactment of a regulatory instrument results in an increase in the total number of regulatory requirements, as determined by the baseline count, a corresponding reduction in the number of regulatory requirements must be made in accordance with the regulations. (2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, require reductions in the number of regulatory requirements in addition to those described in subsection (1), which must be carried out in accordance with the regulations. 2024 c7 s12 Information relating to regulatory requirements 1.2 Each Minister shall ensure that the information prescribed by the regulations is compiled with respect to the Minister’s ministry for each year and provided to the Red Tape Reduction Minister for the purposes of the annual report. 2024 c7 s12 Annual report 2 (1) The Red Tape Reduction Minister shall prepare an annual report in accordance with the regulations with respect to the previous year. (2) By the date prescribed by the regulations, the Red Tape Reduction Minister shall publish the annual report on the Government of Alberta website or in any other manner the Minister considers advisable. 2019 cR-8.2 s2;2024 c7 s12 Immunity 2.1 No action or other proceeding lies against the Crown or its Ministers, agents, appointees or employees in respect of anything done or omitted to be done in good faith under this Act. 2024 c7 s12 Power to amend regulations 3 (1) In this section, “regulation” means a regulation filed under the Regulations Act . (2) Where multiple regulations are to be amended at the same time to reduce regulatory requirements, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may amend those regulations notwithstanding that one or more of the regulations was made by a Minister. (3) Nothing in this section authorizes an amendment to a regulation that would not have been authorized by the Act under which the regulation was made. 2019 cR-8.2 s3;2024 c7 s12 Regulations 4 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (a) prescribing regulatory instruments for the purposes of section 1(f); (b) prescribing regulatory requirements for the purposes of section 1(g); (c) respecting reductions in the number of regulatory requirements for the purposes of section 1.1(1), including regulations (i) respecting the manner of determining the baseline count of regulatory requirements, (ii) respecting the manner of determining or calculating the number of required reductions, and (iii) establishing processes and procedures relating to reductions; (d) respecting reductions in the number of regulatory requirements for the purposes of section 1.1(2), including regulations (i) requiring reductions in addition to those described in section 1.1(1), (ii) respecting the manner of determining or calculating the number of required reductions, and (iii) establishing processes and procedures relating to reductions; (e) respecting the information required to be compiled under section 1.2, including regulations (i) prescribing the information to be compiled, and (ii) respecting the form and manner in which the information is to be compiled; (f) respecting annual reports, including regulations (i) prescribing the information to be included in annual reports, and (ii) prescribing a date for the purposes of section 2(2); (g) respecting principles and standards applicable to the development and review of regulatory requirements; (h) defining any word or expression that is used but not defined in this Act. (2) A regulation made under subsection (1)(c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) may be made in respect of all ministries or one or more ministries. 2019 cR-8.2 s4;2024 c7 s12;2024 c19 s16