The Canadian government recently introduced a new bill targeting amendments to 31 different pieces of legislation to reduce regulatory complexity, including some regulations that affect the seafood industry.
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat said Bill S-7, “Cutting Red Tape for all Canadians Act,” is designed to eliminate overcomplication of regulations in a range of different industries.
“A modern, well-functioning regulatory system is one that is responsive, flexible, and supports competitiveness all while maintaining effective protections for the health and safety of Canadians, and the environment,” the secretariat said. “Such burden can emerge over time as technologies, practices, products and markets evolve. Recurring red tape reduction legislation is part of a broad set of actions underway to reduce red tape and strengthen Canada’s competitiveness while maintaining important and necessary protections.”
Included among the 31 amendments is a proposed amendment to Canada’s Fisheries Act, which governs everything from fish toxicant regulations to aquaculture wastewater systems. According to the secretariat, Bill S-7 will reduce administrative burdens for “municipalities, infrastructure owners, and project proponents” on routine maintenance work in aquaculture operations by allowing fish to be relocated during repairs to fishways or other similar structures.
The amendments also include allowing fisheries authorizations and related processes to be managed electronically in order to improve the efficiency and service delivery of the processes.
A number of other amendments to items outside the Fisheries Act could also impact the seafood industry. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Act could be amended to allow the CFIA to use electronic tools and services and remove duplicative reporting requirements.
“Canadians will benefit from faster, more efficient digital services with less administrative burden,” the secretariat said.
The bill is the result of a “Red Tape Review” that the government launched last year, which looked into Canada’s federal departments and agencies to find ways to improve efficiency.
“Since launching the Red Tape Review last year, we have made progress in removing unnecessary barriers, updating outdated rules and making government work better for Canadians,” Canada President of the Treasury Board Shafqat Ali said in a release. “Today’s legislation builds on that work and supports a more modern, efficient and competitive regulatory system.”
Government officials told the publication the changes could save as much as CAD 264 million (USD 185 million, EUR 165 million) over 10 years for both the government and the private sector if the bill is enacted.
The secretariat added that the government plans to introduce new legislation “on a recurring basis to continually remove unnecessary barriers that can emerge over time.”
“This work will be informed by feedback from stakeholders and an ongoing government-wide review of regulatory requirements,” it said.
