6.

10

Provincial Red Tape Reduction Submission

Recommendation

1. That Executive Committee recommend to City Council:

That the Mayor, on behalf of City Council, write a letter to the Government of
Alberta’s Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction based on Attachment 1 of
the November 18, 2019, Urban Form and Corporate Strategic Development
report CR_7545, as the City of Edmonton submission to the provincial Red
Tape Reduction Strategy.

2. That Attachment 2, of the November 18, 2019, Urban Form and Corporate
Strategic Development report CR_7545, remain private pursuant to section 21
(disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations) of the ​Freedom of Information
and Protection of Privacy Act.

Executive Summary
The City of Edmonton is committed to creating the conditions that enable business
success, increase the ease of citizens dealing with their governments and catalyze
innovation in our municipality.

In response to the provincial government’s Red Tape Reduction Strategy,

Administration has reviewed opportunities for red tape reduction. Suggestions include
removing duplicate requirements, expediting processes to reduce costs, striving for
consistency and streamlining and integrating processes between ministries and the
City. Administration recommends this list be communicated to Alberta’s Associate
Minister of Red Tape Reduction to advocate for changes that would positively impact
the City and its stakeholders.
 

Report

The ​Red Tape Reduction Act c​ ame into force on June 28, 2019. According to the
Government of Alberta, the ​Red Tape Reduction Act​ intends to cut regulations by
one-third to reduce the burden of doing business and make it easier to access
government services.

ROUTING - Executive Committee, City Council | DELEGATION - S.McCabe / C. Owen / B. Andriachuk / N. Anderson / S. Ebrahim
November 18, 2019 – Urban Form and Corporate Strategic Development CR_7545
Page 1 of 4
 Provincial Red Tape Reduction Submission

Red Tape Reduction Submission to the Province

Attachment 1 includes a list of red tape reduction suggestions for the Province to
consider in their Red Tape Reduction Strategy. The suggestions would simplify and
improve the customer experience while ensuring the intent of needed regulations (e.g.,
public safety, financial control, complementary land use, environmental protection,
etc.) remain intact.

While improving the experience of the business community, the Red Tape suggestions
also contribute to achieving the goals of ConnectEdmonton; they support the service
outcomes of Edmonton’s 2019-2022 Corporate Business Plan and they align with
priorities identified by City Council in other advocacy work with the provincial
government.

The four themes of the red tape reduction suggestions in Attachment 1 include:
1. Removing duplicate or unnecessary processes and rules,
2. Increasing business competitiveness in Edmonton and Alberta,
3. Minimizing regulations that are ‘open for interpretation’ to strive for consistency,
certainty and reducing administrative time,
4. Streamlining process and integration between ministries at the provincial level
and the City.

Next Steps
Upcoming City of Edmonton initiatives include:
● an end-to-end review of the permitting and business licensing service for
businesses in Edmonton, identifying and reducing inefficiencies, and improving
predictability and transparency of the service;
● streamlining administrative processes through the reduction of administrative
directives by 20 percent by Q1 2020;
● developing mechanisms for staff, citizens and businesses to report processes
that could be improved, streamlined or retired;
● continuing engagement with the City’s industry partners to identify challenges
and solutions; and,
● publishing a repository of red tape reduction actions completed since 2017 to
the City of Edmonton website by Q2 2020.

Public Engagement
Administration solicited the perspectives and ideas of key stakeholders through
established networks including:
● Edmonton Police Services
● Edmonton Public Library
● EPCOR

Page 2 of 4 Report: CR_7545

 Provincial Red Tape Reduction Submission

● Edmonton Economic Development Corporation

● Edmonton Global
● Edmonton Chamber of Commerce - City of Edmonton Business Advisory
Committee
● Urban Development Institute - Edmonton
● Other municipalities and municipal organizations (e.g. AUMA)

Corporate Outcomes and Performance Management

Corporate Outcome(s):​ Edmonton has a globally competitive and entrepreneurial business

climate

Outcome(s) Measure(s) Result(s) Target(s)

Effective and efficient service delivery
Timelines for Business Business Licences - New License Reduction by one third
Licenses, requiring referral - 45% issued on current results
Development Permits within 11 business days
and Building Permits
Development Permit - New
Commercial, Industrial &
Apartment Buildings - Median
work days to issue - 53 Days
(2019 YTD)

Building Permits for New

Construction - Median work days
to issue - 48 Days (2019 YTD)

Risk Assessment

Risk Risk Likelihood Impact Risk Score Current Potential

Element Description (with current Mitigations Future
mitigations) Mitigations

If the recommendation is approved:

Political Other 2 2 4 The City Ongoing City

Influences municipalities or Unlikely Moderate Low reviewed dialogue through
government positioning from our City's
agencies other connections with
provide contrary municipalities AUMA and our
suggestions and AUMA, to other regional
strengthen municipal partners
alignment provides
opportunities opportunities to
align future
messaging as the
Red Tape review
process continues
to unfold.

Page 3 of 4 Report: CR_7545

 Provincial Red Tape Reduction Submission

Public The City of 2 2 4 The city has Continuation of

Perception Edmonton’s Unlikely Moderate Low multiple continuous
suggestions continuous improvement
are not well improvement activities with a
received due to activities greater emphasis
a poor underway on reduction of red
perception of displaying results tape through public
City efficiency in reducing red consultation and
efforts tape the formation of an
internal red tape
reduction
committee

If the recommendation is not approved:

Public The City of 2 2 4 Administration Administration and

Perception Edmonton may Unlikely Moderate Low has developed Council continue to
be perceived as suggestions to seek out examples
unaligned to the the provincial of red tape
Province’s government and reduction in their
goals of service is focusing on control and within
improvement reducing red tape the control of the
and economic in its control province and action
prosperity. or advocate for
change.

Attachments
1. Red Tape Reduction Suggestions
2. PRIVATE - City of Edmonton Alignment to Third Party Submission

Others Reviewing this Report

● A. Laughlin​,​ Acting Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services
● C. Owen, Deputy City Manager, Communications and Engagement
● G. Cebryk, Deputy City Manager, City Operations
● J. Meliefste, Acting Deputy City Manager, Integrated Infrastructure Services
● K. Armstrong, Deputy City Manager, Employee Services
● R. Smyth, Deputy City Manager, Citizen Services
● B. Andriachuk, City Solicitor

Page 4 of 4 Report: CR_7545