Nova Scotia Businesses Saved More Than 51,000 Paperwork Hours

For the second straight year, the Better Regulation Initiative has reduced paperwork for Nova Scotia businesses.

Business operators now have 8.3 per cent less paperwork than they had two years ago, according to the initiative's progress report released today, Sept. 29, at the third Regulatory Craft Conference.

"We are building momentum and moving closer to our target of reducing paperwork for business by 20 per cent," said Jamie Muir, chair of the Treasury and Policy Board and minister responsible for the Better Regulation Initiative. "Reducing paperwork remains top priority and our focus will be on achieving more results from here to 2010."

The 8.3 per cent paperwork reduction includes a 5.8 per cent drop last year and 2.5 per cent the previous year. Nova Scotia business spent an estimated 564,000 hours on provincial regulatory paperwork from April 2007 to March 2008, a drop of more than 51,000 hours in two years.

"What's key is that the number is going down, not up, as it probably would have had government not put an emphasis on reducing the amount of paperwork that businesses endlessly fill out," said Leanne Hachey, vice-president Atlantic of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). "CFIB will give government three big cheers when they meet their goal of 20 per cent, which they are on the road to doing."

The Better Regulation Initiative has also made progress on its commitment to make licence and permit applications more predictable for business.

Last year's interim target, 50 per cent of provincial licences and permits processed within 10 business days, was surpassed. Currently, 64 per cent are processed in 10 days or less.

The 2010 commitment is for most licences and permits to meet the 10 day service standard where appropriate. Alternate standards will be determined and approved by Cabinet for more complex licences and permits.

"By committing to service standards and changing processes to meet these standards, you are creating accountability and meaningful change for a more competitive environment for business," said Brad Smith, vice-president, Greater Halifax Partnership.

The Better Regulation Initiative is a multi-pronged approach to improve the provincial government's regulatory climate. It aims to maintain the benefits of regulation while making it easier to do business in Nova Scotia. It involves all provincial government departments to create a culture of continuous improvement that will result in simpler, more effective regulation.

For more information on the Better Regulation Initiative, visit www.gov.ns.ca/betterregulation .