Enterprise Saskatchewan

On October 21 and 22, 2009, Enterprise Saskatchewan hosted delegates from across the province, country and the world at its first Regulatory Modernization Conference. This conference was a key step in working to achieve the Government of Saskatchewan’s priority of creating a competitive business environment through the enhancement of regulatory efficiencies and the reduction of regulatory barriers to acceptable levels.

The first day of the conference gave delegates the opportunity to see a variety of presentations from both public and private sector representatives from Saskatchewan and other provinces according to the conference’s four main themes:

1. Regulatory Service Experience-How Government Regulation Impacts Business;
2. Improving Regulatory Service;
3. Innovative Regulation for the 21st Century; and
4. Effective Regulatory Communications.

Dr. Malcolm Sparrow, of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, was the keynote speaker of the conference. In his keynote address, Dr. Sparrow discussed the challenges of effective risk management and the ways in which regulatory agencies around the world are adapting to meet the challenges of rising performance expectations surrounding client service and regulatory outcomes in a period of rapidly changing economic and social realities.

On the second day of the conference, Dr. Sparrow facilitated a workshop to raise awareness and build understanding among provincial regulators with regards to the development, implementation and enforcement of regulations. The workshop was organized according to the following four themes:

1. Mapping the Global Regulatory Landscape;
2. Special Categories of Risks/Harms;
3. Managing Discretion: Values at Stake in Regulation and Risk Control; and
4. Performance Measurement in the Context of Risk Control.

Below, you will find a report that Enterprise Saskatchewan produced to summarize the conference events and achievements in greater detail. You will also find the individual presentations that were delivered to delegates at the conference.