OFB Pre-Roundtable Consultation
December 9, 2013
to January 18th, 2014
The Open for Business Vision
Ontario will be a leading competitive business jurisdiction for reducing burdens,
strengthening relationships with business and promoting efficient, targeted and
smart regulations that protect the public interest.
Open For Business Mandate:
•Open for Business is committed to modernizing Ontario’s regulatory environment
to:
1. Contribute to Ontario’s economic growth and prosperity
2. Build productive and collaborative relationships with business
3. Improve the public’s trust in government
•To accomplish this, Open for Business will work with internal and external partners
to create smarter, faster and easier government that:
- Minimizes Business Burdens
- Promotes Smarter Regulatory Practices
- Encourages B2G Connections
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OFB Roundtable Objectives: Encouraging B2G Connections
• Better understanding of business sector needs and priorities
• Shared knowledge resulting in transparent exchanges that consider
operational requirements, the public interest and the business sector
experience
• Shared objectives that create responsive solutions rooted in sound
stewardship of business and government resources
• Joint problem-solving and a shared commitment to arrive at agreedupon solutions
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OFB Roundtables: Rules of the Game
In order to produce rapid, cross-government results for a sector, there are
boundaries in what can be delivered including:
• Outcomes must involve no additional cost to government.
• Outcomes must not require changes to legislation. Regulatory changes which aim
to reduce burden and streamline processes may be within scope.
• Must be within provincial jurisdiction
• Must be achievable within two-month timeframe.
• If the priority can not be fully addressed within the two-month timeframe, the
sector and ministry leads can agree on a clear go-forward plan to resolve the
priority issue.
Other Guidelines:
• As a single-stakeholder consultation process, the focus should be on improving
the way government works, rather than changing policy itself.
• Focus on deliverable results, not on establishing new, ongoing processes or
consultations.
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OFB Roundtable Process
2 Month Timeline
OPENING ROUNDTABLE
Lead Association presents
Top 5 Priorities
GOVERNMENT-BUSINESS
WORKING GROUPS
Series of sessions between
Sector and Ministry Leads
CLOSING ROUNDTABLE
Lead Deputy Minister presents
agreed-upon solutions*
Chaired by Minister of Economic Development, Trade and
Employment: Sector Business Leaders, Deputy Ministers and
Assistant Deputy Ministers all brought together.
With stakeholder consultation and engagement,
government-business working groups decide on objectives,
identify solutions and set timelines.
Final report of priorities and solutions produced as public
record. Ministries implement action requirements.
*If the priority can not be fully addressed within the two-month
timeframe, the sector and ministry leads can agree on a goforward plan to resolve the priority issue.
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Completed OFB Roundtables
Open for Business has engaged with 9 Ontario business sectors to date.
March-May 2010
November 2010-January 2011
Not-for-Profit
March-June 2012
August-October 2010
March-May 2011
Small Business
August-October 2012
September-December 2010
March-May 2011
Financial
Services
October-December 2012
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Lessons Learned: Conditions for Success
• Time limited: Two-month consultation
• Each sector represented by one lead association that consults
its business sector leaders and participates in priority working
groups.
• For this process, associations identify only their top 5 priorities
• Government finds solutions within its current economic
environment
• Lead ministries appointed, all affected ministries are required to
quickly address each priority or deliver alternate solutions
• Focus on deliverable and measurable outcomes
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OFB Roundtables: Outcomes Key Themes
Harmonization/Standardization
-Standardized Food Premise Inspection Reporting/Food Handler Training Programs (Hospitality)
-Standardized Hospital Procurement Contract Template (Medical Technology)
Improved Market Opportunities
-Guides for doing business with the Ontario Government (Small Business, Medical Technology)
-Launch of EXCITE pre-market assessment process (Medical Technology)
-All inclusive travel/complimentary-drink exemptions (Hospitality)
-Broader access to surplus government lands/provincial vendor of record arrangements (Not-for-Profit)
Smart Regulation
-Introduction of Regulatory Impact Analysis (Manufacturing)
-Introduction of Regulator’s Code of Practice (Hospitality/Agriculture)
-Introduction of Mandatory Review Policy / Regulatory Feedback Form (Small Business)
Addressing Business Burdens
-Review Definition of Catastrophic Impairment through Stakeholder Roundtable (Financial Services)
-Streamline and Modernize Government Funding Processes (Not for Profit)
-Clarification around Police Record Checks (Not for Profit)
-Streamlining the number of permits required for development of residential subdivisions (Building and Land
Development)
-Reduction in length of WSIB No Lost Time Form (Form 7) by 60% (Small Business)
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Thank You!