Red Tape Reduction Progress Report
September 8, 2025
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, 2025.
ISSN 2819-621X
Cat. No. BC9-45E-PDF
Context
On July 9, 2025, the President of the Treasury Board announced a Red Tape Review across the federal regulatory system. The review focusses on cutting red tape, including complicated or outdated processes, unnecessary, duplicative or overly burdensome rules, or inefficient or unpredictable regulatory administration or service delivery.
As an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is doing its part to cut red tape.
Executive summary
The CRTC is continuing its efforts to reduce regulatory burden, streamline processes, and improve transparency and accessibility.
First, the CRTC is using a regulatory burden lens as it reviews and modernizes its regulatory frameworks. Through its public consultations, it is ensuring that its rules are efficient and proportionate. For example, the CRTC is in the process of reducing the regulatory burden on radio stations and streamlining their obligations.
Second, the CRTC is taking a strategic and streamlined approach to the amount and type of information that stakeholders must provide. For example, the CRTC has reduced the amount of information required from Broadband Fund applicants to accelerate investment in Internet projects for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.
Finally, the CRTC is creating a more predictable regulatory environment by improving transparency and accessibility. For example, the CRTC is publishing and updating its regulatory plans (e.g., timing and sequencing of upcoming consultations). This facilitates participation and increases predictability by providing stakeholders with clear plans on future consultations.
Progress achieved
The charts below outline the actions, outcomes, and progress on some of the CRTC’s initiatives to reduce regulatory burden, streamline processes, and improve transparency and accessibility. Actions that have been recently completed are marked as “implemented”. Those marked “ongoing” require continued work with anticipated timelines as follows:
- Short-term: within one year; and
- Medium-term: one to two years.
Reducing regulatory burden
The CRTC is using a regulatory burden lens as it reviews and modernizes its regulatory frameworks. Through its public consultations, it is ensuring that its rules are efficient and proportionate. The following are examples of actions the CRTC is continuing to take to modernize its frameworks.
| Action | Outcome | Progress |
|---|---|---|
| Implementing the modernized Broadcasting Act | Provide broadcasting industry with efficient and proportionate rules that take into account the current and future environment. | Ongoing; Short-term |
| Reviewing the regulatory framework for radio stations | Reduce regulatory burden on radio stations and streamline their obligations. | Ongoing; Short-term |
| Reviewing the regulatory policy on the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services | Ensure consumers are aware of their options to resolve complaints about their Internet, cellphone and television providers more efficiently and effectively. | Ongoing; Medium-term |
| Simplifying and consolidating the CRTC consumer protection codes | Replace a series of consumer protection codes with one simple code for the benefit of consumers and industry. | Ongoing; Medium-term |
Streamlining processes
The CRTC is taking a strategic and streamlined approach to the amount and type of information that stakeholders must provide. The following are examples of actions the CRTC is continuing to take to streamline processes.
| Action | Outcome | Progress |
|---|---|---|
| Simplifying the application process for the Broadband Fund | Reduce the amount of information required from applicants to accelerate investment in Internet projects for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. | Implemented |
| Introducing simplified self-identification for Indigenous participants | Ensure policies better support Indigenous perspectives. | Implemented |
| Reviewing the amount of information required from industry when registering or providing data | Eliminate outdated forms and reporting requirements. | Ongoing; Medium-term |
Improving transparency and accessibility
The CRTC is creating a more predictable regulatory environment by improving transparency and accessibility. The CRTC’s goal is to make it easier for everyone to participate in its public consultations. The following are examples of actions the CRTC is continuing to take to improve transparency and accessibility.
| Action | Outcome | Progress |
|---|---|---|
| Publishing and updating the CRTC’s regulatory plans (e.g., timing and sequencing of upcoming consultations) | Facilitate participation and increase predictability by providing stakeholders with clear plans on upcoming public consultations. | Implemented |
| Posting applications from stakeholders to the CRTC’s website when they are received | Provide stakeholders with access to applications to the CRTC earlier, allowing for more timely engagement and faster decisions. | Implemented |
| Tailoring communications and consultations to align with stakeholders’ preferred style of engagement | Increase accessibility of consultations by making it easier for diverse groups to participate (e.g., oral interventions for Indigenous peoples, and information in sign language and Indigenous languages). | Implemented |
| Publishing accommodation guidance on the CRTC’s website | Increase accessibility of consultations by minimizing barriers to participation for persons with disabilities. | Implemented |
| Simplifying regulatory language in CRTC products | Increase use of plain language to ensure a better understanding of rules and regulations. | Implemented |
| Engaging proactively with diverse communities to share relevant information | Support better public policy outcomes through engagement with diverse communities (e.g., Indigenous, accessibility, and Official Language Minority Communities). | Ongoing; Short-term |
| Simplifying and speeding up the funding application process for individuals and groups that represent the public interest | Strengthen public interest participation in CRTC proceedings. | Ongoing; Short-term |
| Improving navigation on the CRTC website | Ensure that critical information is easily accessible. | Ongoing; Medium-term |
Next steps
The CRTC will continue its efforts to reduce regulatory burden, streamline processes, and improve transparency and accessibility. It is committed to tracking and reporting on its progress to cut red tape.
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