The Report on Red Tape Review was released today in the legislature by the Community Consultative Committee. The report makes 33 recommendations on ways that the provincial government can improve service to Islanders and reduce regulatory burdens.
One of the key recommendations in the report is the development of one-stop shopping offices to be called ACCESS PEI. The committee recommends that
ACCESS PEI be available through different venues including regional services centres and retail locations, and by using a range of information and communications technologies. Other recommendations vary from amending the Major Development Regulations to extending the validation periods for various licenses and permits.
"The Report on Red Tape Review offers some very valuable suggestions on how we, as a government, can serve Islanders better. It covers many areas and we will be considering these recommendations very seriously. We remain committed to cutting red-tape and creating a more attractive business environment," said Premier Catherine Callbeck who accepted the report on behalf of Cabinet.
Members of the Community Consultative Committee, the Honourable Jeannie Lea, Paul Connolly, Lynwood MacPherson, Ross Young and Robert Maddix, held public consultations in February. The committee also consulted government employees and reviewed the experiences of some other provinces.
"We were very pleased with the response to the review. The report is based upon the input received from individuals, businesses, government employees, municipalities and organizations from across Prince Edward Island. The issues and their concerns were quite varied and the committee has responded to their suggestions," said Jeannie Lea, chair of the committee.
"As a committee, we hope that government will agree with our recommendations and that the implementation of these recommendations can begin as soon as possible," Lea added.
Copies of the Report on the Red Tape Review are available at Island Information Services, 11 Kent Street, Charlottetown, telephone: (902) 368-4000 or fax: (902) 368-5544 or on the Internet at http://www.gov.pe.ca/ccc/redtape/index.html.