Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Results — Continued

Goal 3: B.C.'s transportation industries become more competitive.

Core Business Areas:

Transportation Improvements, Highway Operations and Motor Carrier Regulation.

Objective 1:

A one-third reduction in the provincial regulatory burden on the public, industry and stakeholders.

Strategies:

1. Review all ministry legislation, regulations and policies to cut red tape. Work for the relevant legislation and Orders-in-Council to be in place.

2. Continue to assess all new or amended regulations against the Regulatory Reform Criteria.

What is being measured: The ministry's deregulation contributes to government's New Era commitment of reducing regulatory requirements by one-third by June 2004. The result will be substantive streamlining of ministry business processes that will enhance public service and improve relationships with local government.

Note: The initial baseline count from June 2001 of 1,444 regulatory requirements was increased to 1,531 when weigh scale functions were transferred to the ministry from ICBC. The ministry's count as of September 30, 2003 is 1,264 and reflects reductions to date of 17 per cent. A further targeted reduction of the remaining 16 per cent (of 1,531) will eliminate one-third of regulatory requirements in total. This reduction will depend on the enabling legislative changes being approved and passed by the Legislature.

Objective 2:

Simplified licensing and processing procedures for commercial passenger carriers, with safety as the primary criterion.

Strategies:

1. Reduce the number of motor carrier licensing regulations by June 2004.

2. Streamline procedures for assessing motor carrier license applications.

3. Review commercial vehicle weight restrictions to achieve an effective balance between the efficient movement of goods and the need to protect our highway infrastructure.

What is being measured: Motor carrier deregulation contributes to government's New Era commitment of reducing regulatory requirements by one-third by June 2004. The result will be substantive streamlining of motor carrier business processes that will enhance public service and improve relationships with the commercial passenger industry.

Note: The initial baseline count from June 2001 showed that the Motor Carrier Commission had 824 regulatory requirements. The ministry's most recent count as of September 30, 2003 is 622 and reflects reductions to date of 25 per cent. A further targeted reduction of the remaining 8 per cent (of 824) will eliminate one-third of regulatory requirements in total by June 2004. This reduction will depend on the enabling legislative changes being approved and passed by the Legislature.

Objective 3:

Reduction or elimination of third party regulations and policies that impede B.C.'s ability to compete with other jurisdictions in the transportation market.

Strategies:

1. Work with the Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVRAA) to encourage the federal government to adopt a policy of liberalized international air agreements that would allow more carriers to stop in Vancouver and either pick up or drop off passengers and goods. This would be negotiated on a reciprocal basis with other countries, especially the U.S.

2. Work with YVRAA and the Vancouver Port Authority to facilitate seamless connecting transportation for cruise ship passengers, and to identify strategies to compete effectively with Seattle for cruise ship traffic.

3. Continue to press the federal government to make revisions to the Canada Marine Act, to provide Canada Port Authorities with greater financial flexibility and make them eligible for federal infrastructure funding.

What is being measured: The negotiating strategy outlined in the MOU will put forward arguments to support revisions to Canada's international air policies, revisions which are needed to maximize Vancouver's role as a North American gateway. The successful achievement of a more liberalized Canada-U.S. air service agreement will depend on decisions made outside the ministry. However, the ministry will do its utmost to promote these changes, as they would contribute to increased tourism and business development.

Note: The previous service plan included this objective: "Arrange effective alternate service delivery by the private sector to encourage economic activity." This objective has now been successfully accomplished, as the privatization of selected operations will be substantially complete by March 31, 2004. Performance measures relating to service delivery by the private sector are tracked internally by the ministry.