Overview

The Regulatory Registry is a one-stop source for information on:

  • new or amended provincial policy instruments that could affect Ontario’s regulated entities
  • recently approved provincial policy instruments

Provincial policy instruments include:

  • a draft bill before its introduction into the Legislature
  • a regulation made or approved by a minister or the Lieutenant Governor in Council
  • any policy or form made by a minister stemming from legislation or regulation

Regulated entities are defined as:

  • for-profit business
  • not-for-profit organizations
  • Broader Public Sector organizations
  • municipalities
  • long-term care homes

Ministries must consult the Regulatory Registry if they are developing, amending, or removing provincial policy instruments that affect regulated entities. This includes publishing the Regulatory Impact Analysis as part of the consultation posting.

Ministries must publish the proposed/amended policy instruments for consultation for a minimum duration of:

  • 45 calendar days for regulations, policies, and forms
  • 30 calendar days for draft bills

Once the provincial policy instrument is approved and implemented, ministries must update their original posting with a decision.

Transparency and consultation

Ministries may request an exclusion from the requirement to publish, if one of the below criteria applies:

  • concern an emergency declared under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act or that require extraordinary measures on an urgent basis (for example, urgent public or animal health and safety issue, disaster relief, environmental spills and clean up)
  • are financially sensitive and contain program expenditures or contain financial information that could hurt or prejudice individuals, businesses or the government if made public prematurely, such as Budget or tax-related regulations (regulatory requirements relating to administrative processes and formalities attached to the collection of fiscal revenues, including fees and royalties, by government should not be considered financially sensitive)
  • involve privacy issues that would disclose personal information or could create an unfair competitive advantage if released
  • address non-substantive matters, including matters relating to translation, correction of errors and increasing accessibility
  • implement a provision of a legally binding contract
  • involve situations where, as a consequence of a statutory requirement, publication would adversely affect the administration or operation of a government program

However, ministries are expected to post the provincial policy instrument proposal decision on the Regulatory Registry, as soon as practicable.