Bill 56: Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025

This bill affects a wide range of Ontario businesses. Health professionals — pharmacists, dentists, dental technologists, denturists, optometrists, midwives, physiotherapists, psychologists, and others — will see faster registration for out-of-province practitioners (within two business days), meaning clinics and practices can hire qualified staff from other provinces much more quickly. Forestry companies operating on Crown land in northern and central Ontario benefit from reduced red tape: they no longer need annual ministerial approval before harvesting, forest management plans can cover multiple units, and species-at-risk protections are relaxed for licensed forest operations. Municipalities across Ontario that operate automated speed enforcement (photo radar) programs will need to wind those down, affecting their traffic enforcement budgets and any contracts with speed camera vendors — though the bill shields municipalities from liability for breaking those contracts. Businesses that hold environmental permits near drinking water sources (e.g., fuel storage, agriculture, waste management) will see changes to how source protection plans regulate their activities, with streamlined and standardized policies replacing locally varied restrictions. Skilled tradespeople and regulated professionals moving to Ontario from other provinces can start working sooner under expanded deemed-certification rules, which matters for employers in construction, healthcare, and other sectors facing labour shortages.