New budgeting approach to enhance fiscal discipline

Government to begin comprehensive review of programs and services

Edmonton… The Alberta government will demonstrate its leadership in fiscal discipline by implementing results-based budgeting.

“Albertans expect their government to treat their tax dollars with the same care and respect they do,” said Premier Alison Redford. “This process is about making sure we are providing the right services at the right time in the right way to meet the needs of Albertans.”

Bill 1, the Results-Based Budgeting Act, will establish a new approach to government budgeting that emphasizes successful service delivery outcomes, following a comprehensive review of all programs and services to ensure they address Albertans’ priorities as effectively as possible.

Approximately one-third of government programs and services will be reviewed annually in a process, led by Treasury Board and based on outcomes and priorities identified with input from Albertans. The findings and recommendations of program reviews will be made public, and will form the basis of future budget and policy decisions.

“Our budget approach needs to evolve,” said President of Treasury Board and Enterprise Doug Horner. “We will scrutinize all costs, challenge automatic growth in spending, and invest funds where we know they are going to make a positive difference in the lives of Albertans and their communities.”

Media inquiries may be directed to:
John Tuckwell
Director of Communications
Treasury Board and Enterprise
780-643-6479

 The Ministry of Environment is reviewing theAgricultural Waste Control Regulation (AWCR) with the intention of shifting to a code of practice to replace the current regulation.  A code of practice (or “minister’s regulation”) is a legally binding and enforceable set of rules that must be followed by the agricultural industry for environmental and human health protection.

The AWCR describes environmentally sound practices for using, storing and managing wastes, such as manure, and by-products, such as composted materials or other materials used in agriculture, such as wood waste.  The ministry has developed a Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation (intentions paper) for the proposed changes to the AWCR.  The purpose of this intentions paper is to describe the ministry’s proposed revisions for discussion and consultation, and to seek responses and comments from stake­holders and the public on the ministry’s intentions.

The intentions paper and response form for providing comments to the ministry, as well as further information and links to related legislation, are posted here and on the ministry’s consultation website.  The content of the proposed regulatory changes is outlined in the policy intentions paper below.

• Intentions Paper (PDF/719 KB)
• Response Form (PDF/135KB)
• Response Form (online submisssion)

Public Consultation Process

The intentions paper for the consultation will be posted until March 31, 2012, the deadline for submitting comments.  A summary of the comments will be posted on this website after the consultation period is closed.

The CFIA is seeking comments on proposed regulatory amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations and a new regulation under the Canada Agricultural Products Act about the labelling of wine prior to the changes being posted in Canada Gazette Part I.

These amendments will help Canada in harmonizing its wine labelling rules with other wine producing trading partners. Comments will be accepted until February 14, 2012.

• Consultation on Wine Labelling Regulatory Amendment

The regulatory amendments will:

• Develop a national standard for icewine in Canada, and
• Change where mandatory labelling information can be placed on wine bottles or containers.

Currently, mandatory labelling information must be displayed on the front of the wine container on the section of the label referred to as the “principle display panel.”

These amendments will allow wine manufacturers to display this information on any part of the surface of the wine container, excluding its top and bottom, provided that it can all be seen without having to turn the container.

For example, a wine bottle could feature its mandatory labelling information on the back of the bottle.

In addition, these amendments will require that wine labelled as icewine in Canada meet a national standard. This standard would require icewine to be made only from grapes naturally frozen on the vine.

Currently, icewine production in Canada is only regulated in British Columbia (British Columbia Wine Authority), Ontario (Vintners Quality Alliance) and Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation).

The Ministry of Environment is initiating a public review of the draft Saskatchewan Environmental Code. This is the next key step in implementing a new results-based approach to environmental regulation.

“The ministry has embarked on an ambitious journey to reinvent how it regulates, oversees and manages impacts on the environment and natural resources,” Environment Minister Dustin Duncan said. “The code is a critical element of the results based approach, which includes increased transparency and stronger accountability tools, more attention on high-risk areas, improved client service and ultimately, enhanced environmental management.”

The results-based model focuses on required environmental outcomes and encourages innovation by making the proponent accountable to find the best way to achieve or exceed the required outcomes. The Saskatchewan Environmental Code, the first of its kind in Canada, will provide guidance on the design of environmental systems and facilities. It has chapters describing the acceptable results and standards for particular activities associated with development.

Three pieces of legislation – The Environmental Management and Protection Act, The Forest Resources Management Act, and The Environmental Assessment Act – were updated to support the results-based approach. The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Act, which is new legislation, also requires the development of code chapters. All four pieces of legislation were passed, but not proclaimed, in the spring 2010 legislative session. Once required sections of the code are completed, the new legislative framework will be brought into effect.

“I wish to recognize the commitment and participation of stakeholders and Aboriginal groups that have been so critical to our success in developing the draft code to this point,” Saskatchewan Environmental Code Development Committee (CDC) Chair Wayne Clifton said. “The public review stage now provides an opportunity for the broader public and all interested parties to contribute to the development of the code.”

The development of the code has been a collaborative effort involving various companies, associations, provincial and federal government agencies, environmental non-governmental organizations, municipalities, First Nations and Métis communities, academia and knowledgeable private individuals. In all, more than 200 experts and industry leaders were involved, directly or indirectly, in the development of this code.

“I think this approach to regulation can work, provided that there is a commitment by all of us – business people, governments, regulators and citizens – to recognize environmental protection as the top priority,”

Saskatchewan Environmental Society board member Ann Coxworth said. “This means acknowledging that a healthy economy can exist only within the context of a healthy environment. The public review period is an important opportunity for people to let us know whether that commitment is there.”

An online introductory document, code executive summary and the 19 code chapters have been posted to the ministry website at http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca for public review and comment.

Stakeholder and Aboriginal meetings are being held January 30 in Regina; February 2 in Prince Albert; and February 3 in Saskatoon. The intent is to have the first edition of the code approved and the legislation proclaimed in 2012.

Code development is continuing. Work on additional chapters addressing other subject areas including linear developments, works in or near water and hazardous substances storage have already begun.

For more information, contact:
Michele McEachern
Environment
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0412
Email: michele.mceachern@gov.sk.ca

VICTORIA – British Columbia continues to face challenging global economic conditions, but fiscal prudence and a focus on a competitive economy that creates jobs and attracts international investment will help B.C. manage these risks, Finance Minister Kevin Falcon said in a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade today.

In his address, Falcon reviewed the state of the 2011 provincial economy, the outlook for the coming year and discussed the importance of making British Columbia more competitive for job-creating businesses.

As part of ‘Canada Starts Here: the B.C. Jobs Plan’, the minister also announced the government has appointed an Expert Panel on Tax to provide analysis and recommendations to the Province on business tax competitiveness and administrative improvements to streamline the Provincial Sales Tax.

The panel will have the following members:

• · Chair: Sarah Morgan-Silvester – chancellor of the University of British Columbia.
• · Lindsay Hall – chief financial officer, Goldcorp.
• · Laura Jones – senior vice-president research, Economics & Western Canada, Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
• · Elio Luongo – Canadian managing partner, KPMG and vice-president of the Vancouver Board of Trade.
• · Fiona Macfarlane – managing partner, Western Canada and chief inclusiveness officer, Ernst & Young LLP
• · Grace Wong – senior advisor international, office of the provost and vice-president academic, University of British Columbia and former assistant dean international, Sauder school of business.
• · (Adjunct Member) Dale Wall – former deputy minister, Ministry of Community and Rural Development, Province of British Columbia.

The expert panel will consider the competitiveness of British Columbia’s tax environment for business and develop recommendations about which taxes most influence competitiveness and economic growth. It will also identify and develop recommendations for ways in which the Government of British Columbia could address tax avoidance within the business or personal taxation systems. A component of the review will also look at municipal property taxation of business.

The panel’s recommendations must respect the Province’s balanced-budget framework. The report will be submitted by Aug. 31, 2012.

Quick Facts:

• · Private sector forecasters currently expect B.C. real GDP to have increased by 2.3 per cent in 2011, and to average 2.1 per cent growth in 2012.
• · B.C. exports were up 14.5 per cent year-to-date to October, despite a sluggish US economy and an elevated currency, highlighting B.C.’s diversified trade portfolio.
• · Export gains were largely in energy products (25.4 per cent), forestry (10.9 per cent) and industrial and consumer goods (14.8 per cent).
  • o Softwood lumber exports to China were up 92.2 per cent in the first ten months of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010.
  • · British Columbia’s low debt-to-GDP ratio — a key measure of affordability — forecast at 17.2 per cent for 2011-12. B.C. is one of only three provinces with a triple-A credit rating.

• · At 10 per cent, B.C. has the lowest general corporate income tax rate in Canada, along with Alberta and New Brunswick.
• · When all taxes are considered, British Columbians generally have one of the lowest tax burdens in the country.

Public consultation for a new employment action plan for persons with disabilities

FREDERICTON (CNB) – The public is invited to dialogue sessions to provide input into the development of a new employment action plan for persons with disabilities.
Grand Falls-Drummond-Saint-André MLA Danny Soucy and employer representative Jonathan Davenport, of UPS Canada, are co-chairing the steering committee for the action plan. The objective is to have it ready by April.

The aim of the plan is to encourage more persons with disabilities to take advantage of post-secondary education opportunities and to participate in the labour force.

Public dialogue sessions will be held in several locations at the same time on both Jan. 11 and Jan. 18.  Written submissions will also be accepted until Jan. 20.

Following are the dates and places of the public dialogue sessions:

Jan. 11:

Bilingual sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 24 if cancelled)
Simultaneous translation provided.

●    School District 5, 21 King St., Campbellton.

French-only sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 24 if cancelled)

●    School District 1, 425 Champlain St., Dieppe.

●    School District 3, 298 Martin St., Edmundston.

●    School District 9, 3376 Principale St., Tracadie-Sheila.

●    School District 11, 10 Commerciale St. (Unit 2), Richibucto.

Jan. 18:

Bilingual sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 25 if cancelled)
Simultaneous translation provided.

●    School District 8, Donaldson Room, 490 Woodward Ave., Saint John.

English-only sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 25 if is cancelled)

●    School District 2, first floor, 1077 St. George Blvd., Moncton.

●    School District 16, first floor conference room, 78 Henderson St., Miramichi.

●    School District 18, Conference Room A, 1135 Prospect St., Fredericton. Use School District 18 entrance.

LINK:

●    Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons: www.gnb.ca/council

Government Launches Consultations on Canada’s Foreign Trade Zone Like Policies and Programs

Ottawa, December 28, 2011j

Related Document:

• Backgrounder: Foreign Trade Zone-Like Policies and Programs

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today launched consultations to examine Canada’s foreign trade zone (FTZ)-like policies and programs, further to the commitment outlined in Budget 2011, the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

“We need to ensure that these policies and programs are internationally competitive, effectively marketed and administratively efficient,” said Minister Flaherty. “We look forward to receiving input from stakeholders. Our goal is to have policies and programs that continue to attract investment and provide the greatest economic benefit for Canadians.”

Canada’s tax and tariff policies and national FTZ-like programs provide benefits comparable to those offered by site-specific FTZs in other countries. In recent years, the Government has taken important steps to enhance these tax and tariff advantages, notably by working to make Canada a tariff-free zone for manufacturers and contributing to a single-window pilot project for federal, provincial and municipal services at CentrePort Canada.

Stakeholders wishing to provide input are invited to submit their comments to the following address or by e-mail to Tariff-Tarif@fin.gc.ca. The closing date for comments is February 17, 2012.

Consultations on Foreign Trade Zone Programming
Department of Finance Canada
International Trade Policy Division, 14^th Floor East
140 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G5

For further information, media may contact:

Mary Ann Dewey-Plante
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-996-7861

Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080

Minister of Finance Launches Consultation to Update Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Regime

Related Document:

• Strengthening Canada’s Anti-Money Laundering and Anti Terrorist Financing Regime

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today launched a consultation aimed at updating Canada’s regime for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

“Money laundering and terrorist financing not only threaten the financial system, they enable crimes that may harm Canadians and threaten our quality of life,” said Minister Flaherty. “The potential business and societal damage of these crimes underscore the need for a clear and effective deterrent.”

A consultation paper, “Strengthening Canada’s Anti-Money Laundering and Anti‑Terrorist Financing Regime,” puts forward several proposals that may be considered for future changes to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.

The proposals in the paper are organized around the following key areas:

• strengthening client due diligence standards;
• closing gaps in Canada’s regime;
• improving compliance, monitoring and enforcement;
• strengthening information sharing in the regime;
• introducing a list of potential countermeasures; and
• updating reporting requirements.

The paper will also serve to inform the Parliamentary review of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act that will be conducted in 2012 by the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce.

Comments can be emailed to: fcs-scf@fin.gc.ca. The deadline for comments is March 1, 2012.

Written comments can be forwarded to:

Leah Anderson
Director, Financial Sector Division
Department of Finance
L’Esplanade Laurier
20th Floor, East Tower
140 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G5