Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is proposing changes to streamline 13 natural resource permits for mining, infrastructure, energy and housing projects while reducing regulatory delays for routine, low-risk activities.
The proposed reforms, announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources, are expected to reduce administrative requirements for hundreds of permits each year, saving project proponents an estimated 12,715 days in approval-related administrative burden annually.
“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,” Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris said in a statement. “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.”
With a high volume of permit applications already waiting, including many for routine activities that require lengthy approvals despite posing relatively low environmental or public safety risks, proposed changes are intended to reduce unnecessary delays while maintaining existing environmental safeguards.
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One example of the proposed reforms would allow proponents to remove trees for non-forestry developments, such as mine projects, without requiring duplicate ministry approvals when specified conditions are met. The government says the change would eliminate overlapping permits while maintaining 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 Red Tape Reduction Minister Andrea Khanjin. “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 proposed reforms are part of the ministry’s Natural Resources Regulatory and Permit Reform Initiative. According to the province, eight low-risk permits have already been eliminated or modernized under the initiative, with additional changes focused on routine activities that the government says will not compromise public safety or environmental protection.
