Hunter, as the Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction in Alberta, played a pivotal role in spearheading efforts to reduce regulatory burdens and improve economic efficiency in the province. His tenure in this position, which began in 2019, was marked by several significant initiatives aimed at streamlining processes for businesses and individuals. Below are the key initiatives and accomplishments attributed to Hunter during his time in this role:
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: Hunter introduced this cornerstone legislation on November 18, 2019, which affected 11 pieces of legislation across six ministries. The act aimed to speed up regulatory approvals, attract investment, remove administrative hurdles, and modernize outdated legislation. It legally mandated a reduction of unnecessary red tape by one-third, setting a clear target for government action42.
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: On June 15, 2020, Hunter introduced this bill to further eliminate delays in regulatory processes, particularly for oil sands projects. It removed the requirement for cabinet approval after projects were greenlit by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), cutting approximately 10 months off the approval timeline for new oil projects. This bill also scrapped Energy Efficiency Alberta, integrating its programs into Emissions Reduction Alberta3.
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: Hunter championed a policy to prevent the reintroduction of unnecessary regulations by implementing a “one-in/one-out” rule. This required ministries to identify at least one offsetting regulatory requirement for every new one created, ensuring a sustained reduction in red tape2.
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: Under Hunter’s leadership, amendments to AER Directive 020 allowed for commingled abandonment of lower-risk oil and gas wells, saving the industry $584 million in one-time costs by reducing planning and material expenses. Revisions to Directive 017 removed certain well-testing requirements for enhanced thermal operations, saving $390 million and providing flexibility to in situ operators in the oil sands sector1.
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: Hunter oversaw changes that permitted companies to request one-time waivers or variances for certain Independent System Operator rules, alongside reducing data requirements for new energy facility applications. These adjustments resulted in a one-time savings of $118 million by preventing revenue losses due to compliance delays1.
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: Hunter highlighted modifications to the Forests Act to prevent project delays, though specific details on the changes were not outlined in the provided information4.
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: Hunter initiated a comprehensive review of Alberta’s regulatory framework, with every ministry conducting an inventory of statutes, regulations, policies, forms, and guides to identify and eliminate inefficiencies. This systematic approach laid the groundwork for measurable reductions2.
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: He established industry panels across sectors such as oil and gas, tourism, hospitality, small business, manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, non-profit, and construction to identify sector-specific red tape. Additionally, a red tape reduction website (CutRedTape.Alberta.ca) was created to gather over 2,400 submissions from businesses, organizations, and the public, ensuring community input shaped reforms2.
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: Hunter was instrumental in quantifying the regulatory burden, a critical first step in tracking progress. By 2024, the province reported a reduction of 200,000 regulations, achieving the one-third reduction goal, with cumulative savings exceeding $2.9 billion since the initiative’s inception, including over 675 specific red tape reduction initiatives51.
Hunter’s efforts as Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction significantly reshaped Alberta’s regulatory landscape, earning recognition such as the Golden Scissors Award in 2020 from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses. His focus on measurable outcomes, legislative action, and stakeholder engagement positioned Alberta as a leader in reducing bureaucratic barriers, fostering a more business-friendly environment15.
Citations:
- https://www.alberta.ca/cut-red-tape
- https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ac53aea4-013e-4f2f-a08f-2abe8e619bc3/resource/4f5bc155-d12d-4c16-a921-e8e6c8a30b03/download/cutting-red-tape-report-first-100-days.pdf
- https://www.googpro.org/alberta-to-cut-red-tape-for-new-oil-projects/
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/red-tape-ucp-alberta-1.5364031
- https://www.townandcountrytoday.com/local-news/albertas-red-tape-cut-by-33-per-cent-says-nally-8199071
- https://unitedconservativecaucus.ca/grant-hunter/
- https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/oil-sands-projects-approved-by-aer-would-no-longer-need-final-stamp-from-government-under-new-red-tape-reduction-legislation
- https://www.alberta.ca/associate-minister-of-water
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-legislation-red-tape-grant-hunter-bill-22-1.5608955
- https://globalnews.ca/news/5332459/alberta-red-tape-reduction-act-economy-business/
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