How Canada’s regulatory system works
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting and advancing the public interest in health, safety and security, the quality of the environment, and the social and economic well-being of Canadians through an effective, efficient, and accountable regulatory system. Canada’s regulatory system is internationally recognized as among the best in the world.
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat supports the federal regulatory system by:
- Providing federal regulatory policy and oversight
- Supporting evidence-based Governor in Council decision-making, and
- Advancing and promoting regulatory cooperation
The Cabinet Directive on Regulation
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is responsible for the Cabinet Directive on Regulation. The Cabinet Directive on Regulation is the Government of Canada’s overarching regulatory policy framework that lays out the rules and requirements regulators must follow when they develop and implement regulations.
The Cabinet Directive on Regulation ensures that regulations promote innovation and economic growth, while protecting the health, safety, security, social and economic well-being of Canadians, and the environment.
The Cabinet Directive on Regulation replaces the Cabinet Directive on Regulatory Management, dated April 1, 2012.
TBS provides policies, guidance, and tools to help departments and agencies implement federal regulatory policy requirements as set out in the Cabinet Directive on Regulation.
Oversight and public reporting
Public reporting is an important element of a transparent regulatory system. The President of the Treasury Board reports regularly to Parliament and to the Canadian public on key regulatory initiatives such as cost-benefit analysis in regulatory proposals, as well as the One-for-One Rule as required by the Red Tape Reduction Act. These reports help to communicate the intended benefits of the regulatory system, and highlight efforts undertaken to limit the burden imposed on Canadian businesses.