THE Ontario government on Tuesday introduced a red tape reduction package, the Fewer Fees, Better Services Act, 2022.

Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, introduced the Act in the Legislature.

“Since day one, we’ve been relentless in finding ways to make it easier for people and businesses to interact with the government,” said Tangri. “With this legislation, we want to create a business-ready environment for investment, put money back in people’s pockets, and make Ontario the number one choice in North America to raise a family and operate a business.”

The government said that the transformative actions taken by it to-date, have resulted in almost $400 million in net annual savings to businesses. If passed, this act will further support businesses and entrepreneurs, ease financial burdens on people and remove overly complex processes that only serve to frustrate and thwart investment.

Some of the proposed changes in the Act include:

• Cutting costs for millions of Ontario vehicle owners by refunding licence plate sticker renewal fees paid since March 1, 2020.
• Establishing a single window for business services, which will require service standard guarantees so businesses can track the information they need from the government.
• Helping to level the playing field for Ontario businesses by changing the government’s approach to procurement. The change will strengthen the province’s supply chain and help domestic businesses grow and create good paying jobs.
• Providing more flexibility related to provincial assets by creating a Centre of Realty Excellence. This holistic approach across all government-owned properties will ensure priority surplus properties align with key programs, including affordable housing and long-term care.
• Giving commuters a break by removing tolls from Highways 412 and 418. This responds particularly to requests from municipal leaders and Indigenous communities in Durham Region.

“Cutting red tape and modernizing our regulatory system remains a top priority for this government,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Making it easier to follow rules and holding government to clear service standards encourages our incredible entrepreneurs to invest in Ontario and create good jobs.”

The government said that the changes Ontario has made to date are helping it deliver clear and effective rules that promote public health and safeguard the environment without sacrificing innovation, growth and opportunity.

Quick Facts

• The Supporting People and Businesses Act, 2021 is part of Ontario Onwards: Ontario’s COVID-19 Action Plan for a People-Focused Government , which includes more than 30 projects that are changing the way people and businesses interact with the government.
• Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario took immediate action to help people and businesses by passing five high-impact burden reduction bills in the past year: The COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020, Main Street Recovery Act, 2020, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2020, Supporting Recovery and Competitiveness Act, 2021 and Supporting People and Business Act, 2021.
• To date, the government has taken more than 400 actions to reduce burdens — without compromising health, safety, or the environment.
• To allow the government to introduce the 2022 Budget at a time when it can better assess the effects of the reopening of the economy and introduce a plan for recovery, the government is proposing to amend the Fiscal Sustainability, Transparency and Accountability Act (FSTAA) to extend the deadline to release the 2022 Budget from March 31, 2022 to April 30, 2022.