Regulatory efficiency and the role of risk assessment - OUT OF PRINT
Proceedings from the First Annual Policy Forum of the Eco-Research Program in Environmental Policy and the School of Policy Studies at Queen's University. October 26-27, 1995, Ottawa. Edited by Michael D. Mehta. ISBN 0-88911-721-7
Regulatory reform is an idea that generates considerable controversy and anxiety in governments, industries, and public interest groups. For governments, reform is seen as essential, since eroding budgets are affecting the ability to oversee the activities of industry and to ensure compliance to standards. Industry would prefer a regulatory system that was more efficient, one that provides fewer impediments to the diffusion of new technology and processes, thus enhancing rather than obstructing competitiveness in the global marketplace. Public interest groups, including environmental groups and labour organizations, are somewhat sceptical about the true intentions of those advocating regulatory reform. There is a fear among this constituency that reform is equivalent to deregulation. All of these different perspectives on regulatory reform ensure that debate on Canada's recently proposed "Regulatory Efficiency Act" (Bill C-62) will be both passionate and vociferous. As well, debates over specific tools like risk assessment in the policy process accentuate these differences of opinion.
