Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023

February 27, 2023

Infrastructure

Today, Ontario introduced the Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023, that, if passed, would support the government’s plan to enhance fiscal management, cut red tape, and save taxpayers dollars.

Initiatives include:

Improving the management of realty assets

The proposed legislative changes to the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011 and other Acts would, if passed, establish an initial framework to modify the real estate authority of the following 14 entities and provide the Minister of Infrastructure with control of real estate previously under the control of these entities:

  • AgriCorp
  • Education Quality and Accountability Office
  • Province of Ontario Council for the Arts (also known as the Ontario Arts Council)
  • Ontario Media Development Corporation (also known as Ontario Creates)
  • Ontario Trillium Foundation
  • Ontario Financing Authority
  • Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council
  • Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (also known as Destination Ontario)
  • Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario
  • Ontario Securities Commission
  • Human Rights Legal Support Centre
  • Intellectual Property Ontario
  • Skilled Trades Ontario
  • Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario.

This is the first phase of a plan to improve the management of real estate and enhance fiscal management. The first phase of this plan focuses on entities that primarily hold or use office space.

New ministerial authority under Environmental Assessment Act (EA Act)

Ontario is modernizing its almost 50-year-old environmental assessment process that is too slow and unnecessarily burdensome and costly, to better serve Ontario now and into the future.

The proposed amendment will allow the Minister of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks, on a project specific basis, to alter or waive the 30-day waiting period for Class EAs to help projects get built faster.

Environmental standards and protections will remain in place as we work to cut red tape, reduce inefficiencies, and save taxpayers dollars.