The Ontario government is proposing sweeping changes to business permits, environmental approvals and labour regulations in an effort to reduce delays and attract new investment.
The province introduced the Building Ontario Faster Act, 2026, on Tuesday, October 27, with the goal of making it easier for businesses to operate, expand and create jobs.
According to the government, the proposed legislation and related measures could eliminate nearly 220,000 days of cumulative permit processing time across Ontario.
Minister of Red Tape Reduction Andrea Khanjin says the changes are intended to give businesses greater certainty, particularly as they deal with economic pressures from U.S. tariffs.
“We’re giving businesses the confidence and predictability they need to invest and create jobs here in Ontario, so we can stand up to tariffs, protect our workers and build the most competitive economy in the G7,” Khanjin said.
A major focus is speeding up government approvals.
Ontario has committed to reviewing all 375 business-facing permits over three years, with a goal of eliminating, simplifying or modernizing between 35 and 50 per cent by the end of 2028.
The province says it has already reviewed 51 per cent of those permits, with changes made to 65 per cent of the permits examined so far.
The legislation also proposes changes to environmental approval processes, with the government saying it wants to reduce unnecessary delays while maintaining environmental protections.
Another measure would address Ontario’s reliance on the United States for landfill and waste storage capacity, particularly in response to new American tariffs affecting Canadian waste products.
The province is also looking to make it easier for workers in regulated professions and trades to move to Ontario from other provinces and territories without facing unnecessary licensing barriers.
For businesses, the changes could mean shorter waits for permits, fewer administrative requirements and faster approvals for projects.
However, the legislation has only been introduced, and the proposed measures are not yet law.
The government says its broader goal is to make Ontario more competitive while continuing to protect public health, safety and the environment.
