It’s Red Tape Awareness Week in Canada, so an update on the province’s efforts to make government services more efficient seems appropriate.
Nova Scotia launched “Fewer Permits. Faster” in 2025, a project aimed at streamlining and improving the provincial government’s permitting system to reduce red tape and costs.
“A key role of government is to regulate activities to protect people and the environment,” Service Efficiency Minister Timothy Halman said in a release, adding the permitting system helps government fulfil that role.
“But getting a permit shouldn’t be a source of unnecessary burden or cost, which is why we’re modernizing our permitting system without compromising our high standards,” he said.
According to the government, the project is the first comprehensive review of the system in at least 10 years.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the organization behind Red Tape Awareness Week, praised the government for leading the way on reducing the burden on businesses.
“Nearly nine in 10 small businesses cite red tape as a significant impact to their business,” said Louis-Philippe Gauthier, the CFIB’s vice-president for the Atlantic region.
The project brought representatives from different government departments together to review all provincial permits.
Improvements included:
- Eliminating permits associated with low-risk activities
- Lengthening time frames for renewal
- Adding service standards, which all new permits will now be required to have
- Streamlining the application process and restructuring fees
According to the government, the changes could save Nova Scotia businesses $737,000 annually.
The work is continuing, and more improvements are possible, according to the province.
The government said regulatory changes made since 2021 have saved Nova Scotia businesses more than $21.5 million.
