ONTARIO NEWS RELEASE: Ontario Proposing Changes to Streamline Permits and Cut Red Tape

TORONTO — As part of its plan to protect Ontario and build the most competitive economy in the G7, the Ontario government is proposing changes to modernize and streamline 13 natural resource permits, allowing mining and infrastructure projects to move forward faster and with greater certainty. These proposals, focused on low-risk and routine activities, would reduce administrative requirements for hundreds of natural resource permits annually and shorten approval timelines, all while continuing to safeguard public health and safety and sustainably manage natural resources. These changes would save proponents approximately 12,715 days of administrative burden each year, advancing the government’s plan to cut red tape and streamline provincial permits and approvals to help advance projects and create good-paying jobs in priority sectors including mining, energy, infrastructure and housing.

“By cutting red tape and improving service delivery, our government is creating jobs and building the most resilient and self-sustaining economy in North America,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “These proposals, focused on low-risk activities, will provide certainty and predictability in getting permits from the province to advance the One Project, One Process initiative for mining, and the Forest Sector Strategy Roadmap.”

Currently, the ministry issues a large volume of permits and proponents often have to wait for the ministry to approve low-risk, routine activities. By reducing unnecessary delays and regulatory burden, Ontario is building a predictable, investment‑ready environment that supports job creation, boosts economic competitiveness and secures long‑term growth.

To create a more modern permit process that speeds up approvals and gives proponents more certainty, Ontario is seeking feedback on proposed permit reforms that would:

• Modernize fish and wildlife permits for routine, low-risk activities, such as certain fish sampling activities and select wildlife management activities, to save proponents approximately 8,285 days of administrative burden while maintaining protections and safeguards.

• Streamline forest-related permits by simplifying approvals for low-risk or administrative activities such as renewing forest resource licences and removing Crown forest resources (trees) for non-forestry projects, saving proponents approximately 2,730 days of administrative burden while continuing to manage Ontario’s forests responsibly.

• Strengthen public lands management by improving enforcement and compliance tools to help address issues such as unauthorized occupation of public lands, while also enabling travel on closed roads in certain circumstances and allowing dry hydrants to be placed on public lands without site-specific authorization. These changes will save proponents approximately 1,700 days of administrative burden while keeping these lands safe, accessible and available for use.

These changes would speed up permitting approvals while continuing to uphold Ontario’s environmental standards and safeguards. For example, the proposed changes to the forest-related permits would allow for proponents to remove trees for non-forestry projects, like mine development, without requiring duplicative approvals from the ministry, when strict conditions are met. This will reduce overlapping permits, streamline regulatory requirements and save businesses and workers time, while maintaining strong environmental protections.

“Our government is taking bold action to cut red tape and make Ontario the most competitive place in the G7 to invest, build and create jobs,” said Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Red Tape Reduction. “As part of this work, we are reviewing all economic development-focused permits across the province with the goal of eliminating or transforming at least 35 per cent by 2028. The Ministry of Natural Resources’ work marks another important step in our plan to modernize government, reduce unnecessary burdens and deliver faster, more predictable approvals.”

The province will continue to engage directly with Indigenous communities on the proposed changes. For each of these proposed permit reforms, the province is conducting consultations and sharing information on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. Members of the public, stakeholders and municipalities are encouraged to review the proposals and share their feedback on the Environmental Registry of Ontario.