Red tape reduction focuses on identifying and addressing rules, requirements, processes, and administrative practices that are excessive, duplicative, or unnecessary while maintaining appropriate safeguards, accountability measures, and protections in the public interest. Reducing unnecessary administrative burden is an important part of the Government of the Northwest Territories' (GNWT's) commitment to support economic growth, strengthen investment certainty, and improve the delivery of programs and services.
The GNWT's Red Tape Reduction initiative supports a practical, targeted approach to improving how residents, businesses, Indigenous governments, municipalities, organizations, and GNWT employees interact with government. Current efforts include simplifying requirements, streamlining access to programs and services, modernizing legislation and regulations, expanding digital services, and improving coordination across governments.
The initiatives highlighted in this report demonstrate how departments and agencies are reducing burden, improving service delivery, modernizing regulatory frameworks, and strengthening coordination across government systems. To reflect the different ways this work is being advanced, initiatives are organized into four themes:
- Direct Burden Reduction,
- Regulatory Modernization,
- Digital Service and Process Improvement, and
- Regulatory Coordination.
Reducing unnecessary administrative burden is an ongoing responsibility shared across the GNWT. The GNWT will continue advancing these efforts throughout the remainder of the 20th Legislative Assembly to create a more efficient, transparent, and responsive government while supporting economic growth, investment certainty, and effective public service delivery.