Red tape cutting law is putting safety at risk, must be repealed, says PSAC
OTTAWA — The largest union representing federal public servants is calling on the Liberal government to repeal a law it says compromises the health and safety of Canadians, a move the Opposition warns would hurt businesses and stifle attempts to cut federal spending.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada says Bill C-21, the Red Tape Reduction Act brought into force under the previous Conservative government, didn’t lead to fewer regulations but has resulted in fewer inspections, particularly for Canada’s food supply.
The bill was passed into law just months before the Tories were toppled from power in last year’s election. The Conservatives had launched into a wide-ranging push to cut red tape, long a source of frustration for small business owners, in 2012 after a report from the Red Tape Reduction Commission, led by then-minister of state for small business Maxime Bernier.
That report called for a trimming of regulations affecting everything from food inspections to border security to health and even hemp production.