Red Tape Review

Progress reports from the Red Tape Review are now available

Regulations are vital for safeguarding the health, safety, and security of Canadians and the environment, and must also support a competitive and productive economy. Red tape in our regulatory system—including complicated or outdated processes, unnecessary, duplicative or overly burdensome rules, or inefficient or unpredictable regulatory administration or service delivery—is increasingly seen as a barrier to investment and growth.

Cutting red tape from the regulatory system can save Canadians and businesses time and money. To support the government’s commitment to lower costs for Canadians and build a stronger economy, on July 9, 2025, the government launched a Red Tape Review. The review called on departments and agencies to review their regulations, including how they are administered, and develop reports detailing their progress. Cutting red tape could include actions to:

• remove duplication or overlap with other jurisdictions, federal regulators or within a regulator and ensure that requirements are calibrated based on scientific evidence of risk to health, safety, security and the environment, consistent with principles of the Cabinet Directive on Regulation
• streamline inefficient or complicated processes, including excessive paperwork or forms, where these do not provide meaningful benefits
• reduce burden associated with regulatory authorizations and project approvals, such as permitting and licensing
• address outdated requirements and/or better leverage modern tools and processes or adopt innovative solutions
• enable the introduction of new products, services and technologies into the Canadian market and support efficient and reliable supply chains within Canada and with trading partners
• strengthen service delivery, including opportunities to enhance predictability and clarity or improve the delivery of regulatory decisions
• find operational efficiencies, including as relates to inefficient compliance and enforcement mechanisms that create delays or uncertainty without improving outcomes

Red Tape Review Progress reports have now been published by departments and agencies, outlining their early achievements and next steps. A summary is also available.

The Red Tape Reduction Office will continue to engage with stakeholders and regulators to drive further action, building on this important initial milestone.

For enquiries, please contact regulation-reglementation@tbs-sct.gc.ca.

From: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat