Open for Business is the Ontario government’s initiative to create faster, smarter and more streamlined government-to-business services and to establish a modern system of government. It is a key part of the government’s commitment to create a more competitive environment for Ontario’s businesses that will ultimately result in a more prosperous Ontario while continuing to protect the public interest.

Working with all ministries, Open for Business is focusing on the areas that matter most to business:

• Modern Government – transforming the way government develops policies and provides regulatory oversight
• Modern Services – transforming the way government delivers services to business across Ontario
• New Relationship with Business – creating new, open and transparent relationships between government and business
• Click here to find a new one-page information sheet on Open for Business

Success Stories

Open for Business has embarked on numerous activities to help Ontario business flourish while continuing to protect the public interest. Some of our recent successes include:

- Ontario Business Sector Strategy - The Ontario Business Sector Strategy establishes an open dialogue and collaborative relationship between government and key business stakeholders. Sectors identify their top five priorities that impact business and ministries then have two months to address the priorities, explain if they can’t be addressed and deliver alternative solutions. 

- Government Service Standards - Over 700 government service standards provided by 22 ministries can now be found in a single, easy to access online location. This searchable, sortable database has improved the consistency, predictability, transparency and accountability of government services.

- Regulatory Burden Reduction - Since 2008, Ontario has eliminated over 80,000 regulatory requirements - a 17.2 per cent reduction. These efforts have been recognized by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business who, during last January’s Red Tape Awareness Week, improved the province’s score one full grade in their Red Tape Report Card, the most significant improvement in Canada. See the Minister’s statement on Red Tape Awareness Week.

- Regulator's Code of Practice In 2011 OFB, working closely with Ontario’s regulatory ministries, finalized a new risk-based and compliance focused Regulator's Code of Practice which promotes a fair and consistent regulatory environment focused on the end goal- a safe and healthy Ontario. The Code is in the process of being implemented across all regulatory ministries in the OPS. Learn more.

Find out about our other success stories.