This bill, called the Protect Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act, 2025, makes changes to many existing laws in Ontario. These changes aim to reduce rules and make government services faster and easier for people and businesses. The bill updates how government agencies publish financial information, allows courts to use new testing methods for parentage, updates rules about sex offender information, and modifies regulations about forests, cemeteries, and other services. Many provisions will start once the bill receives Royal Assent, which is a formality to make a bill into law.
The bill will mostly make government processes simpler and quicker. For example, local governments will post financial reports online instead of in newspapers, saving money. Courts will have more ways to determine parentage and access information faster. Agencies will have clearer rules about managing forests, cemeteries, and health safety, but with less red tape. It also allows for more online communication and might reduce the number of public notices. These changes are intended to save time and reduce costs for people and businesses, but some worry they could reduce transparency or oversight.
The bill involves costs mainly related to updating websites and administrative processes. For example, city treasuries will need to post financial statements online, which may involve some initial setup but reduce ongoing publication costs. The fiscal notes estimate that these changes could save or cost the government some money, but specific total costs or savings are not provided in the document. Updating regulations and software will require resources, but overall expenses are expected to be moderate compared to the potential savings in printing and administrative costs.
Supporters say the bill will make government services more efficient and less costly. Moving reports online saves money and reduces paper use. Allowing courts to order blood and DNA tests for parentage can improve legal decisions quickly. Updating rules for forests and cemeteries aims to streamline approvals and reduce delays. These changes are seen as creating a more modern and transparent government that is easier for people to interact with, and that can respond quicker to public needs.
Critics worry that reducing newspaper notices and many formal procedures could decrease transparency and oversight. Moving information online might make it harder for some people, especially those without internet access, to stay informed. Less frequent public publishing could lead to fewer chances for the public to review or challenge government actions. There is concern that minimizing some requirements might lead to less accountability, potentially opening opportunities for mismanagement or neglect of important safety standards.