Government says changes could save businesses nearly 13,000 days of administrative burden annually
The Ontario government is proposing a series of reforms aimed at modernizing natural resource permitting processes, reducing administrative delays and improving conditions for investment in key economic sectors.
The proposed changes would streamline 13 natural resource permits related to low-risk and routine activities, allowing mining, infrastructure, energy and housing projects to move forward with greater certainty while continuing to protect public health, safety and the environment.
The reforms are part of Ontario’s broader plan to reduce regulatory barriers and strengthen economic competitiveness. According to the government, the changes could save businesses approximately 12,715 days of administrative burden each year by simplifying approval processes and reducing unnecessary requirements.
“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.”
Ontario Targets Faster Approvals for Low-Risk Activities
The Ministry of Natural Resources currently manages a high volume of permits, with businesses often required to wait for approvals even for routine activities that present limited risk.
The province said the proposed reforms are designed to create a more predictable and investment-friendly regulatory environment by reducing delays while maintaining environmental safeguards.
Ontario said the updated approach would support job creation, improve economic competitiveness and provide businesses with clearer timelines when planning projects.
The proposed changes would focus on three major areas: fish and wildlife permits, forest-related approvals and public lands management.
Fish and Wildlife Permit Updates Could Reduce Administrative Delays
One part of the reform package involves modernizing fish and wildlife permits for routine, low-risk activities.
The proposed changes would simplify approvals for activities such as certain fish sampling operations and select wildlife management activities. The government estimates these updates could save proponents approximately 8,285 days of administrative burden annually.
Ontario said the reforms would continue to maintain protections for wildlife and ecosystems while making permitting processes more efficient.
Forest Permit Streamlining to Support Resource and Infrastructure Projects
The province is also proposing changes to forest-related permits to simplify approvals for activities that have limited environmental risk.
The reforms would include measures such as streamlining the renewal of forest resource licences and allowing the removal of Crown forest resources, including trees, for non-forestry projects under specific conditions.
According to the government, these changes could reduce administrative requirements by approximately 2,730 days each year while continuing to support responsible forest management.
For example, proposed amendments would allow companies developing projects such as mines to remove trees without requiring duplicate approvals from the ministry when strict conditions are met. Ontario said this would eliminate overlapping regulatory steps while preserving environmental protections.
Public Lands Management Reforms Aim to Improve Access and Compliance
The government is also proposing updates to public lands management rules.
The changes would strengthen enforcement and compliance tools to address issues such as unauthorized occupation of public lands. They would also allow travel on closed roads in certain situations and permit dry hydrants to be installed on public lands without requiring site-specific authorization.
Ontario estimates these measures would save approximately 1,700 days of administrative burden while ensuring public lands remain safe, accessible and available for appropriate use.
Government Continues Red Tape Reduction Initiative
The proposed permit reforms are part of Ontario’s wider effort to modernize government processes and reduce regulatory barriers affecting businesses.
“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 said it will continue consultations with Indigenous communities regarding the proposed changes. Feedback from the public, municipalities and stakeholders is being collected through the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
Ontario Reviews Future Permit Improvements
Through the Natural Resources Regulatory and Permit Reform Initiative, the Ministry of Natural Resources is reviewing a range of business-facing permits to identify opportunities for improvement.
The province said it has already transformed or eliminated eight low-risk permits, creating time savings for businesses and supporting sectors including renewable energy and forestry.
Ontario emphasized that all proposed changes involve low-risk and routine activities and are intended to improve efficiency without reducing protections for public safety or the environment.