Ontario Moves to Cut Red Tape with New Legislation

TORONTO — The Ontario government has unveiled the Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024, aiming to streamline processes and reduce costs for businesses and residents while boosting economic competitiveness. Introduced on Wednesday, the legislation is a centerpiece of the Fall 2024 Red Tape Reduction package, which builds on years of efforts to simplify administrative processes and improve service delivery across the province.

If passed, the act would introduce more than 60 new initiatives designed to make life easier and more affordable for Ontarians. Since 2018, Ontario has implemented over 550 red tape reduction measures, which have collectively saved over $1 billion annually and cut 1.5 million hours of administrative time.

“Red tape has long hindered productivity and economic growth in Ontario,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Red Tape Reduction, in a press release. “Thanks to the actions taken by our government since 2018, our red tape reduction measures have lowered costs, improved services, and supported economic recovery, all while maintaining essential safety and environmental standards.”

Today, I introduced the Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act!

Our gov is committed to making life easier and more affordable for businesses and people across Ontario.

The bill focuses on:

✅ Modernized services
✅ Keeping costs down
✅ Boosting economic competitiveness pic.twitter.com/vHvfK8FyDp

— Mike Harris (@mikeharrisjrpc) November 20, 2024

Key Measures in the New Act

The proposed legislation introduces several impactful changes, including:

• Freezing Fees for Drivers: Knowledge and road test fees for Ontario drivers will be frozen.
• Simplifying Long-Term Care Admissions: Changes aim to ease the admission process for people seeking long-term care.
• Accelerating Home Building: Reducing administrative requirements for brownfield redevelopment to help build new homes faster.
• Improving Tenant-Landlord Processes: Speeding up operations at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
• Facilitating Cross-Border Work for Building Officials: Regulatory changes will enable building officials to work more seamlessly across provincial boundaries.
• Advancing Infrastructure Projects: Digital tools will be used to enhance the delivery of hospitals, highways, and transit projects on time and on budget.

Additionally, amendments to the Modernizing Ontario for People and Businesses Act, 2020 are proposed to enhance the province’s ability to measure and report the impact of government actions on residents and businesses.

Supporting Economic Growth

The latest red tape reduction measures are projected to provide $20 million in additional cost savings and cut more than 56,000 hours of administrative time annually. These steps aim to bolster Ontario’s economic recovery and maintain its global competitiveness.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to share their ideas for further improvements through the Red Tape Portal at Ontario.ca/redtape.

Minister Harris emphasized that these ongoing efforts demonstrate the government’s commitment to rebuilding Ontario’s economy and creating an environment where people and businesses can thrive.

For more details on the proposed legislation, visit the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction’s website.