Ontario Proposes New Legislation to Simplify Government Interactions

The Ontario government has introduced the Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024, which aims to simplify interactions with the government for businesses and individuals. This legislation is part of the Fall 2024 Red Tape Reduction package. Since 2018, over 550 measures have been implemented to reduce regulatory burdens, reportedly saving over $1 billion annually and 1.5 million hours in time savings.

Key initiatives in the new legislation include:

• Freezing fees for knowledge and road tests for drivers in Ontario.
• Simplifying the admission process for long-term care applicants.
• Reducing administrative requirements for brownfield redevelopment to expedite housing construction.
• Accelerating operations at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
• Proposing changes to allow building officials to work across provincial boundaries.
• Utilizing digital tools for timely delivery of infrastructure projects like hospitals and highways.

The Ministry of Red Tape Reduction is also proposing amendments to the Modernizing Ontario for People and Businesses Act, 2020, to improve the province's ability to measure and report the impact of government actions on individuals.