Modern regulatory reform improves the ability of government to protect the public, reduce costs to business and support a competitive economic climate.

Top 10 Characteristics of Modern Government

• Ensures public protection
• Seeks alternative and minimizes burden
• Assesses impact of approach
• Harmonizes requirements
• Develops streamlined, straightforward regulations
• Targets areas of greatest risk
• Engages business
• Develops collaborative partnerships with business
• Provides businesses with expertise and compliance support
• Monitors, evaluates and adjusts performance

Key Initiatives

To become a leading jurisdiction in modern regulation, Ontario is modernizing structures, processes and capacities by:

Introducing a NEW Ontario Regulatory Policy that gives business and stakeholders increased predictability and transparency in the regulatory development process.

• Posting of Proposed Regulations
• Twice Annual Effective Dates
• Cap and Trade

Posting of Proposed Regulations
As of November 1, 2009, all proposed regulations that affect business must be posted on the Regulatory Registry website.

Twice Annual Effective Dates
Regulations affecting business now come into effect twice a year, on January 1st and July 1st, providing greater predictability and helping business to plan ahead.

Cap and Trade
Introduced in September 2008, Cap and Trade requires ministries to revoke two regulations for every new or amended regulation, reducing the regulatory burden on business.