Brian Jean, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development (left) and Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction (right). (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Alberta

Province says new bill continues red-tape-cutting momentum

Mar 9, 2023 | 4:53 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The Government of Alberta says new proposed legislation would cut red tape to support irrigation districts, strengthen property rights for landowners and add greater certainty around funding for light rail transit (LRT) projects.

Provincial officials say Bill 9, the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2023, proposes greater legislative clarity and improved service delivery for Albertans through digital solutions. These changes, they say, would save Albertans and Alberta businesses time and at least $1.4 million annually.

Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally says the government is delivering on the important changes that Albertans have asked for.

“This is our seventh red tape reduction bill enabling meaningful legislative and regulatory changes that make life easier by reducing costs and improving service delivery. I’m proud that we continue to take action that helps make Alberta the best place to live, work and invest,” says Nally.

If passed, the government says Bill 9 would give irrigation districts more modern options for providing public notifications, while clarifying and simplifying rules around board governance.

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Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Nate Horner says, “We’re cutting red tape for the irrigation industry, a crucial part of Alberta’s agriculture sector and our economy. These amendments are well overdue and would benefit irrigation districts and their users by reducing regulatory burdens.”

Chair of the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association Ryan Kasko states that “The work done by the red tape reduction panel, and the amendments contained in this bill, will remove some of the barriers to irrigation districts and help improve operational efficiencies.”

Government officials say the bill also proposes language changes to trespassing legislation to clarify that the federal government is bound by the same rules around unlawful entry onto Albertans’ private property. The province says this clarification shows the government is committed to protecting Albertans’ property rights.

Another change would provide the Cities of Calgary and Edmonton with greater certainty around provincial funding for their LRT projects and encourage more businesses to bid on the contracts.

According to government officials, the bill would also amend the Workers’ Compensation Act to expand presumptive cancer coverage to all firefighters who served during the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. Officials say this makes it easier for firefighters and their families to access the benefits and support they need with fewer delays and administrative hurdles.

Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development Brian Jean says, having personally experienced loss during the 2016 wildfire, he can never thank emergency responders enough for their efforts.

“Making sure that these firefighters get faster and expanded access to workers’ compensation benefits is a small step Alberta’s government can take to recognize their risks and sacrifices,” says Jean.

Other changes that are proposed in the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2023, include:

• Supporting the economic growth of Alberta’s bee industry by allowing for quicker and more effective responses to threats from pests and disease outbreaks.
• Simplifying the process to ensure borrowed works of art are protected from legal claims while in Alberta.
• Ensuring a smooth implementation of new continuing care legislation in fall 2023.
• Supporting the implementation of the government’s commitment to extend prompt payment rules to public works projects.
• Changing the official title of provincial court judge to provincial court justice to align with an upcoming name change of the Provincial Court of Alberta to the Alberta Court of Justice.
• Ensuring the justice system can provide information so that government income supports can be suspended for violent offenders with outstanding warrants until the warrant is executed or cancelled.
• Restoring the ability of municipalities to add costs associated with remedying dangerous or unsightly properties to an owner’s property taxes.
• Enabling faster and easier transactions between lenders and debtors when personal property is used as collateral.
• Allowing Albertans to sign and submit certain documents electronically to the Land Titles Office.