Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally. (Government of Alberta/Chris Schwarz)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

INTENDED TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY

Alberta government introduces Automatic Yes Toolkit to reduce permit red tape

Jan 29, 2025 | 2:56 PM

The Government of Alberta has launched a new tool, the Automatic Yes Toolkit, in an effort to reduce red tape and improve efficiency, prevent project delays, create jobs and drive economic growth throughout the province, while ensuring health, environment and safety protections remain in place.

The toolkit is intended to enable government officials to identify permits that could benefit from a faster decision making process, ideally freeing up resources to focus on more complex applications.

For example, officials say “lower-risk and routine activities” like Water Act applications will have permit approvals replaced with operating requirements.

For permits requiring a more detailed review process, the toolkit introduces mandatory time limits for government decisions to provide certainty for applicants.

“While we have met our commitment to reduce red tape by 33 per cent, we are continuing to implement leaner, streamlined processes by adopting an Automatic Yes Toolkit,” said Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction. “Business leaders and Albertans have told us that wait times for permit decisions can take too long, so we’ve designed the toolkit to address those concerns, while still maintaining the appropriate health, safety and environmental protections.”

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The Automatic Yes Toolkit incorporates Code of Practice (COP), Permit-by-Rule (PBR) and shot clock approaches to be used as additional policy tools to support reduction in permit decision timelines. Officials say each approach is tailored to degrees of regulatory risk, ranging from low-risk activities that pose minimal harm to the environment and public health and safety, to medium-risk activities that may require more extensive review and oversight.

As the tools are implemented, the government says Albertans applying for permits can expect shorter wait times and fewer project delays.

“The Automatic Yes Toolkit is a big step forward for Alberta’s small businesses. By speeding up permit approvals, entrepreneurs will have more time to focus on growth and job creation instead of navigating bureaucracy. This kind of efficiency is exactly what businesses need to thrive,” commented Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses.

Even with the toolkit in place, officials note the government will retain the ability to deny permits when necessary and appropriate, as well as undertake appropriate enforcement action when violations have occurred.