MPP Andrea Khanjin introduced more than 50 new measures to cut red tape under the “Protect Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act, 2025.”
The package includes amendments to the Landlord and Tenant Board and a potential overhaul of strong mayor powers.
The Spring Red Tape Reduction Package is projected to save Ontario residents and businesses $5.8 million and over 256,000 hours each year.
The government says this is the 15th red tape package since 2018, totaling over 650 actions that have saved Ontarians more than $1 billion and 1.5 million hours.
“In the face of the ongoing threat of U.S. tariffs, our government is taking action to protect Ontario so we can keep workers on the job, attract new investment and make life easier and more affordable for Ontario families,” Khanjin, who is also the Minister of Red Tape Reduction, said.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most interesting changes:
Among the most significant changes is a move to protect income support for vulnerable Ontarians: the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) will be exempted from income calculations for provincial programs like the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works, and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities. This means recipients can receive the full federal benefit without clawbacks.
The package also includes public safety reforms, like expanding information-sharing under Christopher’s Law, a piece of legislation that makes sex-offenders registry public information, allowing cross-border disclosure from Ontario’s sex offender registry to approved U.S. law enforcement agencies.
For small businesses, especially in the North, the province is streamlining funding delivery and reporting for Northern Ontario Small Business Enterprise Centres, cutting red tape so they can focus on helping local businesses grow.
Other proposals include:
Expanding legal access to alcohol consumption in Ontario Parks by 2026 to boost tourism.
Modernizing the Assistive Devices Program for orthotics to improve access and streamline business submissions.
Reforming the Landlord and Tenant Board to tackle backlogs, with legislative changes under consideration by the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Enhancing the visibility of legal cannabis retailers by requiring official seals and listings on the AGCO website.
Improving board governance at colleges and universities through consultations to ensure alignment with Ontario’s economic needs.
The package also introduces a host of legal clarifications and administrative improvements:
The Children’s Law Reform Act, a piece of legislation that addresses issues relating to children whose parents are unmarried in Ontario, will be updated to allow courts to order DNA tests to determine parentage in family law cases.
The Succession Law Reform Act, which sets out rules for how one’s estate and assets shall be distributed if they die without a valid will, will be amended to clarify the role of substitute decision-makers in managing financial instruments on behalf of individuals who’ve become incapable.
For the resource and environmental sectors, the government is proposing:
A new Geologic Carbon Storage Act for safe underground storage of CO2 emissions.
A carbon management framework to attract investment and reduce emissions.
A modernized framework for tailings storage facilities to eliminate jurisdictional confusion in mining operations.
Consumers will gain more rights through proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection Act, particularly around rewards points, granting the right to recover expired or cancelled points under certain conditions.
On infrastructure, the province is taking steps to centralize real estate decisions for the LCBO and iGaming Ontario, and making District Social Services Administration Boards eligible for Infrastructure Ontario loans, helping fund northern infrastructure projects.
While several proposals are moving forward immediately, others, such as amendments to the Landlord and Tenant Board and a potential overhaul of strong mayor powers, will undergo further consultations.
“This package is about more than just removing outdated rules. It’s about unlocking new opportunities and protecting what matters most,” Khanjin said.
