Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act will help businesses grow — and bring jobs and investment back to Ontario
TORONTO — Ontario’s government is putting people first by taking another major step towards cutting red tape and reducing the regulatory burden facing job creators by passing the Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act today. The Act will reduce regulatory burdens in 12 sectors, helping job creators thrive, create and keep good jobs.
The Act will reduce the high cost of doing business in the province. This will make Ontario companies more competitive and attract new investments — growing jobs and the economy. The government is taking over 30 actions through the Act, along with regulatory changes, to cut business costs, harmonize regulatory requirements with other jurisdictions, end duplication and reduce barriers to investment. For nine months, the government has been hard at work, focused on keeping the promises made to Ontarians. The passing of this legislation will address specific regulatory issues that hold back expansion and investment in industries such as agrifood, manufacturing, construction and the auto sector, allowing for good jobs to be created and protected across the province.
“Bureaucratic red tape is squeezing the mom and pop shops across our province,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, who is the lead minister on reducing red tape and regulatory burden. “We’re getting government out of the way of our job creators to help bring jobs and investment back to Ontario.”
Passage of the legislation will take the government a long way towards delivering on its commitment to achieve two ambitious targets by 2020:
- Saving Ontario companies at least $400 million per year in the cost of complying with regulations
- Reducing the number of regulatory requirements affecting businesses by at least 25%.
“We’re not against regulation — just overregulation,” said Smith. “We’re eliminating regulations that are outdated, inflexible or ineffective, or that duplicate federal or municipal regulations. And we’re maintaining regulations that make sure that Ontario workers and families have clean air and water, safe products and safe working conditions. This is about cutting through the red tape holding businesses back, while maintaining the regulations that protect consumers, workers and the environment.”
Quick Facts
- A research paper from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy in Toronto shows that Ontario has the highest cost of complying with regulations of any province — $33,000 per business per year. This is well above the $25,000 to $27,000 range in most other provinces.
Background Information
Additional Resources
Quotes
“The Ontario government continues to walk the talk on cutting red tape. Even though legislation to eliminate onerous scheduling requirements — Bill 47 — was just passed, the government isn’t letting up on taking concrete actions — both big and small — to make running a small business easier.”
Julie Kwiecinski
“This is a great day for all workers and businesses across Ontario. Thanks to the Ford government, Bill 66 will restore fairness in the construction industry by closing a legislative loophole that was hurting Ontario workers and their families. All qualified workers and contractors may now finally have the chance to work on public construction projects in their own communities, paid by their own tax dollars.”
Sean Reid
“We are excited this government has given us the ability to provide the flexibility to support young people with the right service to meet the unique needs and interests of families. This will benefit all communities and rural areas.”
Owen Charters
“Food and Beverage Ontario is encouraged by the first steps the government is taking to reduce regulatory burden on its members. It is a strong signal to Ontario’s food and beverage processors that Ontario is Open for Business.”
Norm Beal
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