Bay of Quinte riding MPP and the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade Todd Smith speaks to a business crowd at the Belleville Public Library Friday December 7/2018. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
The major media outlets were in Belleville Friday to hear local MPP and Minister for Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade Todd Smith boldly declare “Ontario is open for business”.
Smith announced a major reduction in redundant and unnecessary regulations on both businesses and public sector bodies in front of around 50 local business people and politicians at the Belleville Public Library.
“The Liberals never saw a regulation they didn’t like. “We’re going to work to remove all of the useless stuff that’s bogging business down and making Ontario a bad place for businesses to invest and create jobs.”
Faced with around 380,000 regulations costing businesses and government bodies millions of dollars in time and labour, Ontario has become
the least competitive province in Canada.
Smith said the American states near Ontario have been very aggressive in reducing reporting and paperwork demands on business and they are “literally eating our lunch”.
The streamlining of regulations will occur across all business sectors and public sector bodies, such as municipalities and hospitals.
An example of easing regulation to make business better would be allowing home-based child care operators to have one or two more children under supervision than is currently the case.
Another would be speeding up the planning process so business and industry wanting to open in a new location will be approved or rejected within 12 months.
Currently, approvals and planning processes can take two or more years.
Mayor of Belleville Mitch Panciuk said the removal of costly time consuming but ineffective regulations can be nothing but good news.
“These changes will be good for business and good for job creation. It’s about time something was done. We’ve been much to slow out of the gate and are losing opportunities to other places.”
Major media outlets cover Smith’s announcement on reducing the regulatory burden on businesses and government entities. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
