Task Force to Cut Red Tape
David Grace, president and CEO of Nautel Ltd., has been named chair of the Red Tape Reduction Task Force. Mr. Grace has been a successful businessman in Nova Scotia for over 30 years.
"We are committed to ensuring that Nova Scotia has the most competitive business climate in Atlantic Canada," said Premier John Hamm, who asked Mr. Grace to serve as chair. "That means making sure our regulatory and reporting systems foster the entrepreneurial spirit of business."
The appointment of Mr. Grace meets a government blue book commitment to reduce red tape, and complements other platform commitments to encourage a co-operative business climate.
Mr. Grace will be supported by government MLAs Brooke Taylor, Jon Carey, Bill Dooks, Richard Hurlburt and David Morse. All have experience as small businesspeople in the construction, transportation, insurance or sales industries.
"We are looking to achieve immediate results for Nova Scotians," said Mr. Carey. "Businesses, especially those of a small or medium size will feel the benefits of our work in the days ahead."
A professional engineer, Mr. Grace is a member of the Board of Governors for Saint Mary's University and a former chairman of the Nova Scotia division of the Alliance of Manufacturers and Exporters.
"I think there's a balance that must be struck between proper reporting and simply generating paper," said Mr. Grace. "Time is money, and no business can afford to waste either."
The task force will conduct broad consultations with business, labour, municipal governments and the public. It will make recommendations to Ron Russell, chair of the Priorities and Planning Committee, as to which regulations should be repealed or revised, and develop guidelines for the ongoing review of the impact of regulations on business.
The task force will begin its work immediately, and is expected to file an interim report with Mr. Russell in September.
Those interested in making a written submission may do so via the Internet at www.gov.ns.ca/cutRedTape.