Publisher's Note

Publisher’s Note
It was 22 years ago when I arrived in Canada and chose Calgary, Alberta to be my home. Leaving my family and friends behind, it was a new adventure for me to be in a new country without knowing anyone. That was the time I looked for a Filipino community paper and never found any, [...]
Read full post »

Visitors to Pinoytimes

Start of StatCounter Code

End of StatCounter Code

Page added on October 29, 2012

Email This Post Printable version

Print This Post

City of Calgary launches Cut Red Tape survey

Calgarians asked for solutions to their red tape experiences

Calgary, AB:

Today, Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Alderman Peter Demong and unveiled The City of Calgary’s latest step to continue to cut red tape at City Hall. The Council-supported Cut Red Tape initiative is a chance for all Calgarians to share their solutions to cut red tape based on their own experiences working with The City.

Citizens can complete the Cut Red Tape survey at www.cutredtape.ca or by calling 3-1-1. The survey will run until November 15, 2012.

“By cutting red tape, we’re making it easier and better for citizens to interact with The City,” said Mayor Nenshi. “The best solutions to red tape often come from those who experience it directly—that’s why it’s so important to ask citizens for their ideas.” Every red tape experience and related solution will be reviewed and considered for implementation. Updates will be provided at www.cutredtape.ca.

Phase One of the Cut Red Tape initiative was launched in March 2011 and included asking City of Calgary employees what they felt could be done to improve customer service at The City of Calgary by cutting red tape. More than 180 submissions were received over two weeks and a handful of recommendations are being implemented and many business units are including many of the other recommendations in future work plans.

For Phase Two, Mayor Nenshi brought together a host of business advocacy organizations to collaborate on solutions to cut red tape. This involved asking the various organization memberships for red tape solutions and determining, as an advisory group, the next steps for implementing short, medium, and long-term recommendations. More than 200 submissions were received during this phase.

Since this initiative began, The City of Calgary has implemented a number of improvements to remove anything obsolete, redundant, wasteful or confusing that diminishes Calgary’s economic and lifestyle competitiveness. Examples of these changes include:

Increased (and continue to increase) the number of online 3-1-1 Service Requests from 40 to now over 100
Increased ability for citizens to register for recreation classes by training 50 staff across the city to make it easy to register for recreation courses right at the facility
Made it possible to book inspections through 3-1-1 with simply giving a permit number or address
Made it possible for business customers and the trades industry to book appointments online (eAppointment)

A longer list of changes can be seen on the attached backgrounder.

To submit a suggestion to cut red tape, or learn more about the program, visit www.cutredtape.ca.

City of Calgary launches Cut Red Tape survey

pinoytimes.ca © 2009