Changes

=== COVID-19 ===

=== COVID-19 ===

The pandemic response in Canada has shown that the government can act quickly to mitigate risk for Canadians. The EACRC considered the impacts of COVID-19 on the Government’s regulatory approach and re-confirmed that its previous recommendations[LM2]  to the President of Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat continue to be relevant.

The pandemic response in Canada has shown that the government can act quickly to mitigate risk for Canadians. The EACRC considered the impacts of COVID-19 on the Government’s regulatory approach and re-confirmed that its [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/laws/developing-improving-federal-regulations/modernizing-regulations/external-advisory-committee-regulatory-competitiveness/external-advisory-committee-regulatory-competitiveness-recommendation-letter-july-2019.html previous recommendations] to the President of Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat continue to be relevant.

=== Innovation ===

=== Innovation ===

The EACRC is well positioned to identify new and emerging sectors that could benefit from innovative regulatory mechanisms. The EACRC met with officials from the Centre for Regulatory Innovation (CRI) and shared insights on how to embed and nurture a culture of regulatory innovation within government. The EACRC will continue to recommend sectors where innovative regulatory approaches would have value. See the EACRC’s letter to the President in January 2021.  

The EACRC is well positioned to identify new and emerging sectors that could benefit from innovative regulatory mechanisms. The EACRC met with officials from the Centre for Regulatory Innovation (CRI) and shared insights on how to embed and nurture a culture of regulatory innovation within government. The EACRC will continue to recommend sectors where innovative regulatory approaches would have value. See the [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/laws/developing-improving-federal-regulations/modernizing-regulations/external-advisory-committee-regulatory-competitiveness-advice-treasury-board/external-advisory-january-2021.html EACRC’s letter to the President] in January 2021.  

=== Regulatory competitiveness ===

=== Regulatory competitiveness ===

The EACRC provided insight on initial TBS efforts to better define and measure regulatory competitiveness. Members of the EACRC supplied advice to inform the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s ongoing efforts to modernize the ''Red Tape Reduction Act'' (RTRA). For instance, in their January 2021 letter to the President, the EACRC recommended that the RTRA be extended beyond business to include regulatory burdens affecting citizens.

The EACRC provided insight on initial TBS efforts to better define and measure regulatory competitiveness. Members of the EACRC supplied advice to inform the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s ongoing efforts to modernize the ''Red Tape Reduction Act'' (RTRA). For instance, in their January 2021 [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/laws/developing-improving-federal-regulations/modernizing-regulations/external-advisory-committee-regulatory-competitiveness-advice-treasury-board/external-advisory-january-2021.html letter to the President], the EACRC recommended that the RTRA be extended beyond business to include regulatory burdens affecting citizens.

== Summary for Winter 2021 Meetings ==

== Summary for Winter 2021 Meetings ==

=== Consultations and engagement ===

=== Consultations and engagement ===

The EACRC examined the role of consultation in the regulatory life cycle and heard from stakeholders about the challenges and considerations faced by regulators, businesses, and citizens. The EACRC considered the positive impacts of innovative consultation tools that are currently in use and being developed to facilitate better and more transparent engagement with government on proposed regulations. The committee’s March 2021 letter identified areas where further guidance could lead to more effective consultations.

The EACRC examined the role of consultation in the regulatory life cycle and heard from stakeholders about the challenges and considerations faced by regulators, businesses, and citizens. The EACRC considered the positive impacts of innovative consultation tools that are currently in use and being developed to facilitate better and more transparent engagement with government on proposed regulations. The committee’s [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/laws/developing-improving-federal-regulations/modernizing-regulations/external-advisory-committee-regulatory-competitiveness-advice-treasury-board/external-advisory-march-2021.html March 2021 letter] identified areas where further guidance could lead to more effective consultations.

=== Digitalization ===

=== Digitalization ===

The adoption of digital tools for service delivery was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EACRC heard from stakeholders about the critical role that digital tools can play in enhancing government service delivery, promoting innovation and efficiency, and managing and assessing risk. The EACRC considered how digital tools such as artificial intelligence and digital credentials help reduce regulatory burdens for business and citizens and increase trust in public institutions. See the EACRC’s March 2021 letter to learn more about the committee’s recommendations on this topic.

The adoption of digital tools for service delivery was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EACRC heard from stakeholders about the critical role that digital tools can play in enhancing government service delivery, promoting innovation and efficiency, and managing and assessing risk. The EACRC considered how digital tools such as artificial intelligence and digital credentials help reduce regulatory burdens for business and citizens and increase trust in public institutions. See the EACRC’s [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/laws/developing-improving-federal-regulations/modernizing-regulations/external-advisory-committee-regulatory-competitiveness-advice-treasury-board/external-advisory-march-2021.html March 2021 letter] to learn more about the committee’s recommendations on this topic.

=== Regulatory response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic ===

=== Regulatory response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic ===

In its January 2021 letter, the EACRC recommended that government capture the best of the regulatory changes from the COVID-19 pandemic and focus on institutionalized changes that will contribute to Canada’s regulatory excellence in the future. To address this recommendation, the EACRC invited representatives from the federal government and the Government of Nova Scotia to share their reflections on regulatory response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic and identify what responses should be part of a permanent regulatory toolbox. The EACRC re-confirmed in its March 2021 letter that the government should continue to identify lessons learned for the regulatory system.

In its [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/laws/developing-improving-federal-regulations/modernizing-regulations/external-advisory-committee-regulatory-competitiveness-advice-treasury-board/external-advisory-january-2021.html January 2021 letter], the EACRC recommended that government capture the best of the regulatory changes from the COVID-19 pandemic and focus on institutionalized changes that will contribute to Canada’s regulatory excellence in the future. To address this recommendation, the EACRC invited representatives from the federal government and the Government of Nova Scotia to share their reflections on regulatory response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic and identify what responses should be part of a permanent regulatory toolbox. The EACRC re-confirmed in its [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/laws/developing-improving-federal-regulations/modernizing-regulations/external-advisory-committee-regulatory-competitiveness-advice-treasury-board/external-advisory-march-2021.html March 2021 letter] that the government should continue to identify lessons learned for the regulatory system.

=== Regulatory Reviews round three ===

=== Regulatory Reviews round three ===

As part of the EACRC’s mandate to help identify opportunities to streamline regulations and regulatory changes that promote economic growth and innovation, it recommended topics for the second round of targeted Regulatory Reviews. Regulatory Reviews enable stakeholders to provide direct feedback on often longstanding regulatory issues and irritants. For a third round of Regulatory Reviews, the EACRC recommended the government focus on:

As part of the EACRC’s mandate to help identify opportunities to streamline regulations and regulatory changes that promote economic growth and innovation, it [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/laws/developing-improving-federal-regulations/modernizing-regulations/external-advisory-committee-regulatory-competitiveness/eac-regulatory-competitiveness-letter.html recommended] topics for the second round of targeted Regulatory Reviews. [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/laws/developing-improving-federal-regulations/modernizing-regulations/targeted-regulatory-reviews.html Regulatory Reviews] enable stakeholders to provide direct feedback on often longstanding regulatory issues and irritants. For a third round of Regulatory Reviews, the EACRC recommended the government focus on:

a.   capturing and institutionalizing pandemic-related improvements to regulatory agility

a.   capturing and institutionalizing pandemic-related improvements to regulatory agility