Since 2001 we’ve worked hard to streamline the regulatory environment to make it easier for business to do business in British Columbia and for citizens to access programs and services.
Here are some examples of the work that has been done:

• For Small Business and Industry
• For Transportation
• For Health and Public Safety
• For the Citizens
• For Natural Resources and the Environment
• For the Forest Industry
• For Local Governments and Communities
• For Education and Labour

• Passed the new Business Corporations Act and regulations making it easier, faster and more cost-effective to operate a business in BC
  
  
• Reviewed over 3000 fees and licences across government. 43 % have been eliminated, consolidated or devolved
  
  
• Implemented BizPal, a tool designed to help businesses save time when accessing licensing and permit information
  
  
• Established the single business number and OneStop Business Registry, making it easier, faster and cheaper for businesses to deal with several levels of government at one time
  
  
• Signed the British Columbia-Alberta Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement to reconcile standards and regulations
  
  
• Introduced the new International Financial Activity Act, attracting international financial business, such as film and television distribution
  
  
• Revised the Partnership Act so all businesses are eligible to register for Limited Liability Partnerships, providing protection of personal assets, the ability to focus on the business of the partnership and take greater risks, and certainty for all parties as to what assets are available to creditors
  
  
• Amended the Small Business Venture Capital Act to allow small businesses to provide tax credits to investors for risk capital investment to grow their business and create more jobs
  
  
• Streamlined liquor licensing and related administration, improving public safety and reduce red tape for business
  
  
• Revised revenue forms, streamlined reporting requirements, and eliminated unnecessary forms to improve customer service

• Enacted the new Passenger Transportation Act, maintaining public safety and making it easier for small businesses to respond to their needs
  
  
• Streamlined the process for updating the Drive BC website, making more timely information available to you
  
  
• Consolidated core highway legislation into a new Transportation Act that clarifies definitions, responsibilities, harmonizes legislation and facilitates long-term planning with local governments
  
  
• Revised Motor Carrier Act and regulations allowing bus, limousine and taxi operators timely approval for tariff, time schedule changes and licence applications.

• Implemented the Community Care and Assisted Living Act reducing the burden on community care facilities by streamlining and updating licensing requirements and permitting outcome-based regulations
  
  
• Repealed obsolete or duplicated provisions in regulations under the Health Act reducing the regulatory burden in the public health sector
  
  
• Introduced the Health Professions Act, providing consistency for the regulation of all health professions
  
  
• Amended the Medical Protection Act and the Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act to streamline the review process for decisions pertaining to enrolment of beneficiaries in the Medical Services Plan and decisions regarding consent to health care for incapable adults
  
  
• Amended the regulatory requirements for Registered Social Workers, streamlining the approval process for setting up a private practice
  
  
• Passed a new Safety Standards Act that modernizes the BC safety system, lowers costs to businesses, and creates flexibility to achieve safety objectives
  
  
• Harmonized the BC Building Code with national codes and standards, ensuring those who are involved in the design and construction of buildings may work in British Columbia without having to learn an entirely new regulation
  
  
• Eliminated prescriptive facility and business requirements not related to the safety and quality of repairs in the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia’s car shop repair programs, easing the burden on ICBC partners and reducing costs to the repair shops
  
  
• Amended the Motor Vehicle Act regulations to improve the AirCare program and to allow the use of technology available on new cars such as on-board diagnostic equipment, recognizing the lower emissions on newer cars and exempting hybrid vehicles from AirCare testing
  
  
• Amended legislation to allow commercial trailers to use non-expiry licence plate validation decals, reducing the administrative burden on operators

• Implemented Court Services Online, providing court services to the public via the Internet to search court files and file court documents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  
  
• Established a new Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority to increase industry and consumer involvement in protection activities
  
  
• Revised the Child, Family and Community Service Act to safely reduce the number of children in government care, promote resolution of disagreements about plans for children through alternative dispute resolution that do not involve the court system, and eliminate redundancy
  
  
• Clarified the Home Owner Grant Regulation to qualify a disabled homeowner for an additional grant
  
  
• Consolidated and standardized BC Assessment policies ensuring consistency across the province, improving customer service, and reducing a large number of regulatory requirements
  
  
• Amended the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to ensure strong protection for personal information and limit the privacy invasiveness of extra-territorial legislation such as the USA Patriot Act
  
  
• Launched a province-wide, cross-ministry initiative to develop an integrated, citizen-centred approach to services delivering disability supports
  
  
• Established two new Acts to replace four existing Acts, resulting in a sustainable, accountable system that provided assistance to those most in need, while helping people who are able to work find employment
  
  
• Introduced a regulatory change to ensure income assistance recipients receive the full amount of a federal benefit for lower-income families with children under seven
  
  
• Introduced a new Residential Tenancy Act, Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act and accompanying regulations, to enable a clearer understanding of the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants
  
  
• Amended the Homeowner Protection Act Regulation and the Building Envelope Renovation Regulation to ensure consumer protection and cost-saving alternatives for homeowners

• Established the Integrated Land Management Bureau to provide client-focused, one-stop access to Crown land.
  
  
• Established the Land Title and Survey Authority, delivering more efficient client services at a cost savings and overall improved operating efficiencies
  
  
• Created an Integrated Land and Resource Registry reducing the time required to research rights and interests for a parcel of land
  
  
• Introduced a new Environmental Assessment Act allowing flexibility to determine the review process on a project-by-project basis
  
  
• Brought into force the Wildfire Act to improve fire management policies, streamline regulation, and improve accountability of fire users
  
  
• Amended mining, oil and gas regulations by providing industry and government with increased flexibility and reduces administration

• Streamlined the Forest Practices Code and introduced the Forest and Range Practices Act
  
  
• Streamlined the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and associated regulations, introducing tough penalties for non-compliance
  
  
• Amended the Foresters Act and the College of Applied Biology Act to strengthen the accountability of resource management professionals
  
  
• Implemented a new Range Act, improving tenure security for ranchers enabling them to invest in long-term developments on Crown range land
  
  
• Implemented efficiencies in the cutting permit issuance process improving the quality of applications, saving both time and money for businesses

• Enacted the Community Charter giving local government increased flexibility and greater autonomy to address their community’s individual needs
  
  
• Enacted the new regional district bylaw approval exemption regulation to streamline development approvals and processes when provincial interests are not likely to be affected to reduce the number of approvals required
  
  
• Passed the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act to simplify bylaw enforcement and improve access to justice by moving bylaw disputes out of the court system
  
  
• Devolving the operation of heritage sites throughout the province to community-based management allowing community groups, local governments and individual businesses more opportunity in managing these sites, to encourage investment and tourism

• Passed the Industry Training Authority Act and introduced a new industry training model to increase industry trainees by 30 % over three years.
  
  
• Passed the Private Career Training Institutions Act to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses offering non-career training programs
  
  
• Amended the School Act providing students and parents with more choice about the school they attend
  
  
• Introduced legislative changes to improve student achievement by setting new class size limits and requiring consultation with parents and teachers and offering more choice to students who are taking courses online through distributed learning
  
• Implemented a new regulation for farm labour contractors and producers to further protect these vulnerable employees, and to foster better working relations
  
  
• Amended the Workers Compensation Act to be more flexible and responsive to workers’ and employers’ needs
  
  
• Amended the Employment Standards Act to provide greater flexibility to businesses and reduced requirements on employers