Selfish disregard will become costlier on federal property once Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) boosts the fines for misappropriating accessible parking spaces to more closely align with penalties elsewhere in the country. The move is on a newly released list of roughly 500 promised red tape reduction measures across 30 government departments, agencies and commissions.
This follows after Treasury Board of Canada President, Shafqat Ali, called for a government-wide review to identify ways to streamline services, cut duplication and reduce administration costs for individuals, businesses and other entities required to comply with federal regulations. The initial list responds to the 60-day deadline to report progress that Ali imposed earlier this summer.
“We will be moving forward with these initiatives and others to take meaningful action to cut red tape for Canadians and to help Canadian businesses stay competitive,” he maintains. “The Red Tape Reduction Office, led out of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, will be leading work with federal regulators to make further progress.”
It’s anticipated that increasing the current $50 fine for unauthorized use of spaces designated for accessible parking will deter that misbehaviour and reduce the number of tickets issued, thus saving on costs for enforcement officers and fine processing. The change would also be more reflective of the government’s accessibility mandate and more in keeping with fines in the range $400 to $700 that Canadian municipalities typically charge for the same offence.
This is to be accomplished through an update to regulations governing traffic on government property, under the auspices of the Government Property Traffic Act. As well, PSPC has identified two other efficiencies related to management of the federal property portfolio.
Proposed changes to the Public Works Nuisances Regulation would give PSPC authority to directly intervene on lands that other government ministries administer. Currently, PSPC does not have authority to respond to hazards or disturbances until the land has formally been transferred to its custodial oversight.
“If there is an illegal occupation or encampment on lands under the administration of another department, that department must transfer administration of the property to PSPC in order for the Nuisances Regulations to apply and for PSPC to take action,” states the departmental overview of proposed measures.
PSPC also recommends changes in the process for disposing of property that has been seized for forfeiture because they are connected to designated criminal offences, which are expected to simplify the process, save time and reduce the costs of managing property in the intervening period before it is sold.
