Province Begins Oversight Reviews of Major Agencies Including Metrolinx, WSIB and LCBO
The Ontario government has launched a series of reviews targeting major provincial agencies as part of an effort to strengthen financial sustainability, improve operational efficiency and ensure taxpayer dollars continue supporting essential frontline services.
The reviews, announced by the Treasury Board Secretariat on August 5, 2026, will examine agency governance, productivity and financial management while identifying opportunities to improve service delivery for families, workers and businesses across the province.
The government said the initiative is designed to ensure key agencies remain financially stable while continuing to provide important public services.
“Ontario’s agencies are central to our government’s plan to protect Ontario, delivering vital services that millions of families, workers and businesses rely on every day,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board. “By launching these reviews, our government is ensuring agencies have the strong financial footing needed to improve operations while respecting taxpayer money.”
Reviews Target Eight Major Provincial Agencies
Focus on Efficiency, Governance and Productivity
Beginning this summer, Ontario will review eight provincial agencies: Metrolinx, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Supply Ontario, Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation, Legal Aid Ontario, Agricorp, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
According to the government, the agencies were selected based on several factors, including their reliance on provincial funding, financial performance, size, operational complexity and workforce growth trends.
The province said ministries and the Treasury Board Secretariat will work together to identify opportunities that can improve agency operations while maintaining reliable services for Ontarians.
The reviews are part of a broader government approach outlined in the 2026 provincial budget, A Plan to Protect Ontario, which focuses on responsible financial management and strengthening public-sector accountability.
Ontario Expands Fiscal Management Strategy
The government said it has already taken steps to improve efficiency across the Ontario Public Service, noting that workforce growth has remained below the rate seen at the federal level and in other provinces and territories.
At the same time, Ontario has shifted resources toward frontline operations by increasing the ratio of front-office staff compared with back-office staff. The government reported that this ratio moved from 50:50 in 2019-20 to 60:40 in 2025-26.
The province said the new agency reviews will build on these measures by increasing oversight and ensuring organizations delivering public services are positioned for long-term sustainability.
“Ontario’s agencies are central to our government’s plan to protect Ontario,” the government stated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong financial foundations while continuing to improve services.
Agency Spending and Accountability Measures Under Review
Ontario said that although the number of provincial agencies has declined in recent years — falling from 191 agencies in 2018 to 137 — taxpayer spending at agencies has continued to rise.
In response, the government introduced an agency hiring freeze in 2025, which it said avoided nearly $300 million in public costs. The province also reported reducing consultant usage by 20 per cent as part of efforts to control expenses.
The government said the latest reviews will help identify further opportunities to strengthen financial oversight and improve operational performance.
Higher Standards for Provincial Agency Management
The province said it will continue implementing stronger accountability measures across the agency sector, including regular quarterly reporting requirements and reviews of appropriate leader-to-staff ratios.
Officials said these steps are intended to create greater transparency, improve decision-making and ensure agencies remain focused on delivering effective services.
As Ontario continues to face demands for improved public services and responsible spending, the government said the reviews will provide a framework for agencies to operate more efficiently while protecting taxpayer interests over the long term.