It kind of sounds like what we really need (or what would make a much bigger difference) is more regulatory power centralized into federal jurisdiction, with various provincial regulatory bodies consolidating into federal ones. That would be an even more painful transition with lots of redundancies (as in job loss and sunsetting support systems), but actually fix the problems that have been returning to light the past month or so.
The new problems would be a loss of diversity (particularly in terms of governance strategies) and flexibility (to try things on smaller scale and in simpler/more homogenous environments) – for starters. I can’t begin to imagine what else might arise due to power being consolidated and centralized like that. But it would certainly diminish our capacity for local self-governance, and my anarchist principles respond to that with many tiny alarm bells.
I think it comes down to choosing between efficiency/agility and resilience/redundancy. We’ve always been a diversity-loving nation that respected the latter’s value. I really hope the approach we’re currently taking proves “good enough.” Our best bet probably comes from greater collaboration and cooperation not just between our provincial governments, but also directly and independently between our various regulatory bodies/professional associations.
president of CPA Nova Scotia, said under the bill, member accountants could flock to whatever regulator charged the lowest dues, threatening the association’s very existence
Good! Competition between regulators will mitigate rent-seeking. Professional licensing is (mostly) a tax on everyone for the good of the priestly class of licensed. IMO there are very few professions where a license makes sense, and it seems like the complainers are those who would stand to lose their political power over their profession
