Province launches latest round of red tape cuts

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on February 28, 2025.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

TheÂ AlbertaÂ governmentÂ isÂ makingÂ moreÂ effortsÂ toÂ reduceÂ redÂ tape.

The UCP government this week introduced a bill in the Alberta legislature that it believes will reduce regulatory burdens forÂ businesses and residents.

Dale McNally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, made the announcement Wednesday in Edmonton.

The Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 introduces what the government calls “more key changes to streamline processes and improve services across multiple sectors.”

The changes, if passed, will improve support for charitable andÂ fundraising groups, allow for electronic communication between landlords and tenants in the exchange of documents, as well as “facilitate further trade union participation in apprenticeship education and enable further improvements in child intervention.”

OtherÂ proposedÂ changesÂ include:

* Allowing post-secondary student associations to simplify their legal organization, reducing red tape and costs.

* Repealing energy diversification legislation that does not support any current programs or new initiatives.

* Better aligning charitable fundraising legislation with consumer protection legislation.

The bill is the ninth so-called red tape reduction bill introduced by the UCP government, which says it has eliminated more than 209,000 regulatory requirements.

“Alberta is the best in the country at cutting red tape and we want it to stay that way,” said Nally. “Red tape reduction isn’t only about helping the economy – it’s about improving the lives of Albertans from all walks of life. The changes we’re proposing in this bill will help thousands of Albertans, including landlords, tenants, and students in the trades and post-secondary institutions.”

The changes will impact numerous sectors including advanced education. Amendments there will allow student associations to simplify their legal organization which the UCP says will reduce red tape and costs.

Amendments would also “clarify the legal responsibility and duties of trade unions, employers organizations and occupational associations to the apprentices they sponsor” which is intended to reduce administrative burden by reducing confusion and time spent interpreting legislation. They would also clarify legal protections around sponsorship for students engaged in apprenticeship education program.

Amendments on children and family services would remove what the UCP calls “unnecessary requirements” so the Office of the Child and Youth advocate “can focus resources recommendations to improve services for vulnerable children and youth, leading to more timely, focused improvements.”

The government also wants to repeal the Energy Diversification Act since it doesn’t support current programs or new initiatives.

“All programs under the Act are either complete, have been discontinued, or have been moved to the Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program,” said Nally. “If Bill 38 is passed, the Energy Diversification Act would be repealed, ensuring that Alberta’s energy sector continues to be aware of the resources and programs available to them.”

And the government wants to remove the need for a referendum before making minor adjustments to the border with B.C. Which it says would help the province avoid an expensive and time-consuming vote.

In his statement, Nally said the boundary with B.C. “is a sinuous boundary, largely defined by natural watershed lines, including the divide of the Rocky Mountains. As such, this boundary may have several small changes over a short period of time due to transformations in the landscape, such as rockslides, erosion, or glacial melt. Under the current legislation, we work with our counterparts in the B.C. and federal governments to survey and potentially convert sections of sinuous boundaries to a conventional line when necessary.

“However, to alter any provincial boundary in Canada, it requires an amendment to the federal Constitution Act. If passed, Bill 38 would remove the requirement to hold a referendum when routine changes are required to the Alberta-B.C. border, saving time and money.”

Amendments also impact the Residential Tenancies Act which covers the relationship between landlords and tenants. Currently, rent increases, eviction notices or lease cancellations must be delivered personally or by registered mail and landlords are allowed – in cases where tenants are absent or evading receipt of notices – to post in conspicuous locations on residential premises.

When such methods aren’t possible, the Act allows communication by fax. The new amendment expands on the ability to correspond electronically through use of communication forms such as email.

The government isn’t proposing that email replace other forms of communication, said Nally.

“In fact, we would still require the preferred methods to be in person, by registered mail, or by public posting. Electronic service, like email, will only be permitted as an alternative when these traditional methods have proven ineffective.”

Changes to the Charitable Fund-raising Act, meanwhile would allow for the appointment of a Director of Charitable Fundraising to oversee day-to-day application of the Act. The government says this would ensure decisions and actions to support charitable organizations can be carried out more efficiently and quickly.

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