Our plan at a glance

• Taking action on
  41
  opportunities within the next three years.
• Monitoring
  22
  opportunities and exploring how to take action.
• No action will be taken on
  16
  opportunities that could increase burdens.

Summary of all opportunities

A high level summary of the 79 potential opportunities for improvement identified through the auto parts manufacturing consultation.

Actions in progress

The following 41 opportunities were identified during the Red Tape Challenge, and we have committed to take action on them within the next three years.

Employment and labour

• Review Employment Standards Act provisions
• Better communicate employment standards requirements to new businesses
• Involve stakeholders in Ontario College of Trades decisions
• Simplify information provided by the Ontario College of Trades
• Review enforcement practices at the Ontario College of Trades
• Review and streamline the process for sponsoring apprentices
• Address apprenticeship ratios
• Provide more information on compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
• Review Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act reporting thresholds
• Review accessible website requirements
• Improve transparency around pay equity issues

Corporate and commercial law

• Create a link between the federal Office of Superintendent of Bankruptcy and ServiceOntario

Environment

• Streamline environmental activity and sector registry and environmental compliance approval processes
• Reduce environmental compliance approval timelines
• Improve section 20.18 of the Environmental Protection Act
• Update biomass equipment standards
• Review air dispersion modelling requirements
• Automate greenhouse gas emissions reporting
• Harmonize the process for greenhouse gas emissions reporting
• Simplify waste disposal procedures
• Clarify Environmental Protection Act regulations
• Improve waste regulations under the Environmental Protection Act
• Modernize hazardous waste system reporting
• Review acetone reporting requirements
• Harmonize toxics reporting
• Clarify Waste Diversion Act requirements
• Reduce waste diversion audits

Land use and planning

• Standardize Planning Act and Endangered Species Act requirements

Health and safety

• Simplify the workers’ compensation system
• Improve health and safety inspections and audits
• Harmonize occupational health and safety requirements across Canada
• Incorporate industry-specific safety issues into health and safety requirements
• Modernize communication with the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA)
• Review liquid fuels handling code requirements
• Harmonize propane handling requirements
• Improve access to pressure vessel inspectors
• Harmonize Canadian registration numbers for boilers and pressure vessels
• Review hazardous material labelling requirements for duplication

Taxation and financial reporting

• Streamline the Ontario Gas Card program

Other

• Improve the long combination vehicle approval process
• Digitize vehicle registration

Actions tracking

The following 22 opportunities were identified during the Red Tape Challenge; we will monitor and explore how best to take action.

Employment and labour

• Clarify sick note requirements
• Standardize daily hours of work in the transportation sector
• Improve service delivery provided by the Ontario College of Trades
• Integrate apprenticeship training

Corporate and commercial law

• Modernize the filing of annual returns, incorporation and dissolution of a corporation

Environment

• Review environmental compliance approval rules for equipment being transferred within Ontario
• Recognize environmental management systems standards
• Review Toxics Reduction Act classifications
• Improve toxic reduction plan requirements
• Modernize tire disposal administration
• Streamline on-site co-generation facilities approvals process
• Review effluent water monitoring programs

Health and safety

• Improve clearance certificate administration
• Improve communication with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
• Educate users about mandated safety equipment under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Increase awareness on occupational health and safety requirements
• Streamline occupational health and safety requirements
• Simplify Fire Code inspections through the use of technology
• Integrate all health and safety inspections
• Update fuel industry requirements and certification

Other

• Simplify business registration process
• Improve access to compliance information for businesses

No action recommended

No action will be taken on the following 16 opportunities because they don’t fall under provincial authority, could increase the burden on businesses or are not regulatory issues under the Red Tape Challenge’s mandate to improve redundant, outdated or unnecessarily costly regulations.

Employment and labour

• Review and streamline Human Rights Tribunal investigations
• Review physician’s role in workers’ compensation cases
• Remove non-compete clauses from employment contracts

Corporate and commercial law

• Simplify the dissolution of a corporation as it relates to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act

Environment

• Review regulations under the Clean Water Act for sampling frequency
• Review equipment testing requirements under the Environmental Protection Act
• Review the need for third party validation of greenhouse gas emissions reporting
• Standardize wastewater treatment goals
• Analyze Toxics Reduction Act third party review

Health and safety

• Create flexibility for workers’ compensation coverage in the construction sector
• Review occupational health and safety training certifications
• Implement risk and safety management plans for fuels other than propane

Taxation and financial reporting

• Harmonize Employer Health Tax Act and Canada Revenue Agency processes
• Alert employers as they approach the employer health tax reporting threshold
• Streamline property tax classifications
• Introduce a grace period for companies moving from the small business tax rate to the general rate