The government has emphasized the need for Ontario to be Open for Business and instituted a government-wide red-tape and burden–reduction initiative to support economic growth and foster enhanced interaction between government and business.
The AGCO has a long history of working to support Open for Business principles by continually searching for ways to reduce administrative burdens for businesses and by deploying regulatory approaches to support responsible economic development. The shift towards a more risk- and outcome-based regulatory framework in the gaming sector, for example, is intended to allow Operators and businesses more flexibility to adapt to marketplace changes and ultimately to increase their competitiveness without compromising the AGCO’s regulatory work.
In 2018–2019, the AGCO designed and implemented a similar approach for the retail sale of cannabis in Ontario, assuring effectiveness but avoiding unnecessarily burdensome regulatory oversight from the outset. The AGCO also continues to build strategic partnerships and share information with other government ministries and agencies to strengthen collaborative and streamlined approaches. This includes effective relationships with the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG), Ministry of Finance, OCS, OLG, and LCBO.
The concept of reducing red tape and burden has been a driver for many of the regulatory and internal reforms implemented at the AGCO over the last 15 years. In 2019–2020, the AGCO worked collaboratively with the Government of Ontario on multiple phases of liquor regulatory reforms that have simplified the rules and reduced unnecessary burden on liquor licensees and permit holders, including bars, restaurants, stadiums, special occasion hosts, and manufacturers. In 2019–2020, the AGCO also introduced changes to the rules that govern horse racing to support the industry’s sustainability and reduce the administrative burden for participants.