Should Ontario Simplify Forest Permits and Logging Rules?

Official title: Natural Resources Regulatory and Permit Reform Initiative: Improving forest legislation, regulations, processes and forest management policy

Closed Regulations & Permits Economy & Jobs Natural Resources
Ontario wants to cut red tape for forestry, mining, and development projects. The province is proposing to streamline how companies get permits to harvest trees, operate sawmills, and remove trees for roads or mines. Some changes would let businesses self-register instead of waiting for government approval. Private landowners could also gain full ownership of trees the Crown currently controls on their property.

Why This Matters

Work in forestry, mining, or construction in Ontario? These changes could speed up project approvals. Own rural property with trees? You might finally get full ownership of trees the province has claimed since your land was first granted. Live near Crown forests? How the province balances faster permits with environmental protection affects your backyard.

What Could Change

Forestry companies could self-register for certain permits instead of waiting for ministry approval. Mill operators might see licence fees reduced or eliminated. Private landowners would no longer need permits to cut trees the Crown reserved on their property. The Forestry Workers Lien for Wages Act could be repealed entirely. Personal use harvesting rules would expand to allow cutting dead trees without authorization.

Key Issues

  • Should businesses be able to self-register for forest permits instead of waiting for government approval?
  • Should the Crown transfer ownership of reserved trees to private landowners?
  • Should licence fees for sawmills and scalers be reduced or eliminated?
  • Should the Forestry Workers Lien for Wages Act be repealed?
  • Should personal use harvesting rules be expanded to allow cutting dead trees without authorization?

How to Participate

  1. Review the Forest Management Planning Manual, Forest Information Manual, and Scaling Manual to understand current forest management rules.
  2. Submit your comments through this consultation page on the Environmental Registry of Ontario by the deadline.
  3. You can also email your feedback to forest.policy@ontario.ca.

Key Documents