Press Releases
Nicholls “Immensely Excited” To Introduce His First Legislation
May 17, 2012
(QUEEN’S PARK)—Chatham-Kent-Essex MPP Rick Nicholls said today he is eagerly awaiting Thursday’s afternoon session in the Ontario Legislature, when he will be conducting Second Reading of his first private member’s bill, the Legislative Oversight of Regulations Act 2012.
“My goal for Chatham-Kent-Essex is to find solutions to the challenges currently in our riding. Solutions that, if developed properly, would also benefit the entire province. I believe my legislation addresses a significant hurdle for our home-grown businesses right now.”
The Legislative Oversight of Regulations Act 2012 will create a physical registry ofOntario’s nearly 400,000 regulations, and mandate a cost-benefit analysis of every new regulation. The other purpose, said Nicholls, is to track red tape reduction efforts and ensure that they’re working.
“I’ve talked to small business owners in my riding, and nearly every one of them struggle under the pile of government paperwork that is now necessary just to run their operations, let alone expand.
“It’s costing our economy $11 billion annually. Imagine what we could be doing for job creation in the region by lifting that burden, and by examining more closely every new regulation to ensure business owners are going to be benefited, not tied down.”
Nicholls said the red tape burden should be a concern for every MPP at Queen’s Park, regardless of political stripe.
“I’m not here to play politics,” said Nicholls. “I don’t have time for it. There has been progress made on the red tape issue by every party in the Legislature, not just mine, and they should be commended for it.
“My hope is that every MPP, regardless of party, will see the benefit of giving teeth to our red tape mission by passing this bill.”
