Latest news with #ShafqatAli
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘A very surprising number': Federal government aims to find $25B in savings over three years
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday, June 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle As the federal government undergoes a spending review, Prime Minister Mark Carney is aiming to find $25 billion in savings over the next three years, according to a senior government source who spoke to CTV News. News of the target figure comes after Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, along with Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali, issued letters to Carney's cabinet on Monday, asking them to present plans by the end of summer to find 'ambitious' savings ahead of this fall's budget. According to a spokesperson from Champagne's office, ministers must find 7.5 per cent savings for the 2026-27 fiscal year that begins on April 1, 2026, followed by 10 per cent in 2027-28 and 15 per cent in 2028-29 – with the goal of finding 'long-term savings.' The Toronto Star was first to report the $25 billion savings target. In a new video posted to X on Thursday, Carney reiterated his promise to 'spend less, invest more,' which he first pledged to do during the federal election. 'We'll spend what we need to, with the money we already have,' Carney said in the video. During the federal election campaign, Carney also committed to balancing the federal government's operating budget by 2028, and to divide the budget into two new categories – operating costs and capital investments. He also pledged to cap – and not cut – the public service. Speaking to CTV News, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada President Sean O'Reilly, who represents as many as 70,000 public service members, called the $25 billion savings target 'a very surprising number' given it's so 'large.' 'I have major concerns for how it will affect my members and their employment,' O'Reilly said, adding he is also worried about how potential job cuts could impact services and 'affect everyday Canadians and their ways of life.' Earlier this week, unions received a briefing from the federal government outlining the current expenditure review, but O'Reilly said conversations have 'been very lacking.' While O'Reilly also conceded there are 'potential places we could find to reduce spending,' he also said he is concerned potential job losses could go beyond attrition. Sahir Khan, who is the executive vice-president of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy, says he believes the review is about reallocating money to reach new spending commitments, like a middle-class tax cut and a $9.3 billion boost to meet NATO's defence spending target of two per cent of GDP by this fiscal year. 'I don't think the cuts of the public service are kind of the first priority. I think the first objective here is to create a pool of opportunities that they could look at for reallocation,' Khan said. Khan also said Canadians should not expect to see the public service grow and instead see workers 'go where the money is,' referring to departments like National Defence and the Canada Border Services Agency, which are getting more emphasis under the current government. Statistics released by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in the spring show 357,965 people worked for the federal government as of March 31, down from 367,772 people in 2024. Asked on Thursday how she will find 7.5 per cent of savings for her department in the next fiscal year, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand would not specify but said 'there is work to do.' 'This is a time where we need to focus on reducing our expenditures on the one hand but continuing to offer the key programs that our citizens rely on,' Anand said while speaking to reporters from Malaysia, adding social programs like the Canada Child Benefit and $10-a-day childcare will not be impacted by the review. Two years ago, Anand asked her cabinet colleagues to find $15.4 billion in government spending cuts by 2028 when she served as Treasury Board President under former prime minister Justin Trudeau. On top of the expenditure review, the federal government also announced on Wednesday that it is launching a 'red tape review' of regulations across all federal departments and agencies with regulatory responsibilities in a bid to cut 'unnecessary red tape.' Ministers will have 60 days to review regulatory responsibilities and report back on their organizations' progress and next steps. With files from CTV News' Josh Pringle and William Etherington
CTV News
09-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Federal government looking to cut ‘unnecessary red tape' and modernize regulations
The federal government is launching a 'red tape review' of regulations across all federal departments and agencies with regulatory responsibilities in a bid to cut 'unnecessary red tape.' Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali announced Wednesday morning that ministers will have 60 days to review regulatory responsibilities and report back on their organizations progress and next steps. 'Regulations play a key role in protecting the health and safety of Canadians—but to stay effective, they must be regularly reviewed,' Ali said in a statement. 'Cutting unnecessary red tape is essential to unlocking Canada's full economic potential.' The recently created Red Tape Reduction Office will oversee the review, which is intended to modernize outdated regulations and reduce red tape. 'As part of this review, Ministers will review regulations in their portfolios and propose actions and measures to eliminate red tape –– including removing outdated regulation, reducing duplication with provincial rules, and making it easier to access and deliver services,' Treasury Board said in a statement. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business released a report that the combined cost of regulation to businesses from all three levels of government was estimated at $51.5 billion in 2024, with approximately $17.9 billion attributed to red tape. 'Canada's new government has a mandate to spend less and invest more. To that end, we will remove red tape by eliminating outdated regulation,' Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement. 'It's time to make government more efficient, make its processes more effective, and to catalyze more private capital so we can build the strongest economy in the G7.' The Liberal Party's election platform pledged to reduce red tape, saying it would require all federal departments – including Transport Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – to review and report on progress to 'eliminate outdated and unnecessary rules, reduce duplication or overlap with provincial rules, and streamline the administration of rules and the delivery of regulatory decisions.' The Liberal platform also promised to build AI infrastructure by investing in nation-building energy infrastructure and cutting red tape to make Canada the best place in the world to build data centres. According to the Red Tape Reduction Office's website, the office was established to address regulatory red tape by 'making the regulatory system more efficient,' 'reducing barriers to innovation, productivity and economic growth,' and 'reducing regulatory costs for Canadians and businesses.' The federal government's move to 'modernize outdated regulations and reduce red tape' within the government comes two days after cabinet ministers were directed to find operational savings over the next three years. CTV News learned Monday that federal ministers have been asked to find 7.5 per cent savings for the 2026-27 fiscal year that begins on April 1, 2026 followed by 10 per cent in 2027-28 and 15 per cent in 2028-29 in an effort to find 'long-term savings.'
Cision Canada
09-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Government of Canada moves forward to modernize outdated regulations and reduce red tape Français
OTTAWA, ON, July 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Canada's government was elected on a mandate to spend less and invest more. A crucial part of delivering those savings is eliminating inefficient red tape – outdated and overly complicated regulations that raise costs, reduce productivity, and stifle economic growth. Today, the Honourable Shafqat Ali, President of the Treasury Board, launched a Red Tape review of regulations across federal departments and agencies with regulatory responsibilities. As part of this review, Ministers will review regulations in their portfolios and propose actions and measures to eliminate red tape –– including removing outdated regulation, reducing duplication with provincial rules, and making it easier to access and deliver services. The review will be overseen by the recently created Red Tape Reduction Office, and within 60 days, Ministers will report to the President of the Treasury Board on their organizations' progress and next steps. A leaner, more focused government will make regulations more efficient, services more effective, and unlock more private capital for Canadian workers and businesses – to build the strongest economy in the G7. Quote "Canada's new government has a mandate to spend less and invest more. To that end, we will remove red tape by eliminating outdated regulation. It's time to make government more efficient, make its processes more effective, and to catalyze more private capital so we can build the strongest economy in the G7." - The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada "Regulations play a key role in protecting the health and safety of Canadians—but to stay effective, they must be regularly reviewed. Cutting unnecessary red tape is essential to unlocking Canada's full economic potential." - The Honourable Shafqat Ali, President of the Treasury Board Quick Facts According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the combined cost of regulation to businesses from all three levels of government was estimated at $51.5 billion in 2024, with approximately $17.9 billion attributed to red tape. In 2024, CFIB found that the average business spent 735 hours (92 days) on regulation, 256 hours (32 days) of which was spent on red tape. The Red Tape Reduction Act focuses on controlling growth through the 1-for-1 rule and only counts certain types of burden (e.g. administrative burden). When introducing new regulatory administrative burden, regulators are required to repeal an existing amount of burden. If a new regulation is introduced that imposes burden on business, they must repeal an existing regulation within two years. $26 million in annual net administrative burden was removed in the 2023–24 fiscal year; since the 2012–13 fiscal year, annual net burden has been reduced by approximately $82 million. 22 more regulations were taken off the books than were added, with a total net reduction of 238 titles since the 2012–13 fiscal year. Stay connected X: @TBS_Canada Facebook: LinkedIn: SOURCE Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
CBC
09-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Federal government launches regulatory review to cut red tape
Social Sharing Prime Minister Mark Carney is enacting a cross-departmental review of all regulations starting Wednesday, a measure he promised during the federal election campaign. "Regulations play a key role in protecting the health and safety of Canadians—but to stay effective, they must be regularly reviewed," said Shafqat Ali, president of the Treasury Board, in a statement by his department accompanying the announcement. "Cutting unnecessary red tape is essential to unlocking Canada's full economic potential." Carney said in the statement his government has a mandate to "spend less and invest more," adding "it's time to make government more efficient, make its processes more effective, and to catalyze more private capital so we can build the strongest economy in the G7." Wednesday's announcement said Ali has asked each minister to review regulations and "propose actions and measures to eliminate red tape." It said organizations would have 60 days to undertake their reviews and report on progress to Ali, and the process would be overseen by a newly created Red Tape Reduction Office. The Liberal Party's platform said it would "require all relevant federal departments — such as Transport Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada — to undertake review and report on progress, within 60 days, on steps to eliminate outdated or unnecessary rules, reduce duplication or overlap with provincial rules and streamline the administration of rules and the delivery of regulatory decisions." Both during his run for Liberal leader and during the election campaign, Carney said the federal government needs to rein in spending. Carney said he would separate "operational spending," the day-to-day running of government programs and departments, from "capital spending" — anything that builds government-held assets. The platform also pledged to cut the growth of government spending from nine per cent to two per cent by eliminating waste and duplication, and using technology to balance operational spending within three years. On Monday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne sent letters to his fellow cabinet members asking them to come up with "ambitious savings proposals." Champagne will lead what's being called a "comprehensive expenditure review," with the goal of getting a handle on public sector spending. During the campaign, Carney came under criticism by the NDP, which accused him of planning cuts to the public service, specifically to health care, in order to balance the books. The Liberals pushed back on that allegation. The Treasury Board's announcement did not include any financial targets, but said each federal regulator must publicly report on its progress and priorities at the end of the 60-day term. The board also cited the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which found businesses collectively paid an estimated $51.5 billion last year due to regulations from all three levels of government, with "approximately $17.9 billion attributed to red tape."
CTV News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Transparency advocates call for independent review of Access to Information Act
A person makes their way past the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA — Transparency advocates say a coming federal review of the Access to Information Act should be overseen by an independent panel, not the government, to avoid the pitfalls of the last such exercise. In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali, civil society groups, academics and others call for a genuine and timely examination of the access law. The next federal review of the Access to Information regime is set to begin soon. For a $5 fee, people can use the access law to ask for a range of federal documents — from internal emails to policy memos — but it the law has long been criticized as out of date and poorly administered. The law has not been overhauled since its introduction more than 40 years ago and many users complain of lengthy delays and report getting heavily blacked-out documents or full denials in response to their applications. On the federal election trail in April, Carney committed to an 'objective review' of the system, saying it would serve Canadians well. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
