Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2019

Overview

Today, the Ford Government announced its Fall red tape bill entitled, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2019. This is the government’s second red tape bill of 2019 in line with their goal to help remove regulatory roadblocks for manufacturers and reduce business costs by $400 million.

SIMPLIFY ELECTRONIC AND REPORTING SYSTEMS TO ALLOW FOR BETTER TRACKING ON HAZARDOUS WASTES

Change Resources Productivity and Regulatory Authority (RPRA) mandate to include development and delivery of digital waste and resource recovering reporting services and offer easier, faster reporting for the regulated community
Redevelop the electronic system to be managed by RPRA to allow business and governments to better track and report on hazardous wastes

REMOVE OUTDATED ACETONE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Proposing regulatory changes to end acetone reporting in Ontario and will continue to ensure that facilities do not release harmful levels of acetone into the air through Ontario’s air standard for acetone under O. Reg. 419

ELIMINATE DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR INTRODUCING NEW CHEMICALS (OHSA)

Removing the requirement to notify the Ministry of Labour about bringing new chemicals into their workplace. Currently, employees must notify two levels of government when they bring new chemicals into their workplace

STREAMLINE PROCESS FOR FORMER AND RETIRED MEMBERS

Provide CEO of Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario with discretion to waive the requirement for pension plan administrators to provide biennial statement to former and retired members
Allow plan administrators to use electronic communication as the default method to communicate with members while ensuring plan members can opt-out of electronic communications at any time

NEXT STEPS

The Government will be tabling this bill in the Legislature and will be up for debate shortly. It is anticipated that there will be committee hearings where stakeholders will be able to provide comments. We expect that the legislation to pass as the government has a majority.

It is anticipated that another red tape bill will be tabled in the Spring of 2020. If you have ideas on how the government can modernize regulations and reduce red tape, please contact Alex Greco.