As one of the first to develop an Entertainment District in Alberta, the province will be watching Red Deer’s results.
The UCP government amended the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act to allow drinking in public areas outside licensed premises while enjoying music or other entertainment as part of its red tape reduction initiatives.
“Red Deer is one of the early adoptors which is so exciting,” said Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction Tanya Fir about Entertainment Districts which are common in many European countries.
“We brought it over here to help revitalize communities and promote tourism, promote small and local businesses.”
Red Deer’s new Entertainment District allows adults to consume alcohol at the picnic tables and benches on the Ross Street Patio from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Alcoholic beverages must be purchased from businesses within the site and must be consumed within the boundaries of the district.
Related:
Ross Street Patio Entertainment District attracting people to downtown Red Deer
Fir said reducing red tape by making things more open, or flexible, is always done with good intentions, but government will be on the lookout for any unintentional consequences because safety and protecting the environment are also key when it comes to red tape reduction.
“Red tape reduction is about things we can truly show are redundant, outdated, duplicated, serves no beneficial purpose, but that stops at regulations that are in place to protect Albertans and our environment and our health.”
She said her ministry wants to help businesses by encouraging economic growth and diversity, job creation, and new investment.
The UCP’s seventh red tape reduction bill will be tabled in the Legislature this fall.
Related:
Alberta gets A for red tape reduction
She said nine industry panels — from oil and gas to tourism and hospitality — regularly provide red tape feedback to government, and everyday Albertans are encouraged to make suggestions at alberta.ca/cut-red-tape.aspx about ways government can make their lives easier.
The province committed to cut red tape by a third, or 33 per cent, and as of today red tape has been reduced by over 26 per cent, Fir said.
“We’re really proud of that, and for every four regulatory requirements or pieces of red tape that we’re cutting, we’re only adding one, so the ratio of four to one is really great.
“The focus will always be on making life better and cheaper for Albertans.”
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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