Although pet and other licences bring in some cash to city coffers, a consultants’ review suggests the red tape may not be worth it.

The report by consulting firm KPMG says the city should consider eliminating its long-criticized pet licensing program as well as some business licences “that do not clearly serve a public purpose.”

Business licensing earns the city $6 million per year. The pet-licensing program alone brings in $660,000.

The city licenses more than 30 types of businesses, from grocery stores and parking lots to bowling alleys and coffee shops. The consultants do not say which of the businesses they believe do not need to be licensed.

While the consultants concede that reducing licencing “may not produce a net saving for the city,” it would “reduce paper burden.”  Coun. Anthony Perruzza, a left-leaning member of the committee, said it would be “absolutely dumb” to eliminate money-makers. “I thought this was an exercise in achieving savings,” he said.

But Coun. Cesar Palacio, the right-leaning chair of council’s licensing and standards committee, said the city does not need “pet detectives peeking through people’s windows.”

He applauded the report for raising opportunities to “cut red tape that’s costing Toronto residents a lot of money and aggravation.”

Palacio was also open to the report’s suggestion that the city seek savings in waste diversion enforcement. At present, a team of five employees is involved in compelling apartment buildings to recycle.

But he said he had not yet decided for himself which types of licences are unnecessary.