Should Ontario Make It Easier to Cut Trees on Crown Land?

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

Open Regulations & Permits Economy & Jobs Natural Resources
Ontario wants to streamline forestry permits and approvals. The province is proposing over a dozen changes to how logging, sawmills, and tree removal work on public lands. Some changes would let companies self-register instead of waiting for government approval. Others would transfer tree ownership to private landowners and repeal an old wage protection law for forestry workers.

Why This Matters

Own rural property in Ontario? You might finally get full ownership of trees the province has claimed since your land was first granted. Work in forestry? An old wage protection law could disappear. Live in a forestry-dependent community? Faster permits could mean more jobs—but weaker enforcement could affect how forests are managed.

What Could Change

Companies could self-register to remove trees for mining or road projects instead of getting individual permits. Sawmills consuming over 1,000 cubic metres yearly could renew licences automatically. Private landowners would own all trees on their property—no more Crown reservations. The Forestry Workers Lien for Wages Act would be repealed. People could cut up to 10 cubic metres of dead trees on Crown land without authorization.

Key Issues

  • Should companies be able to self-register to remove trees for development projects instead of getting individual permits?
  • Should the province transfer ownership of reserved trees to private landowners?
  • Should the Forestry Workers Lien for Wages Act be repealed?
  • Should people be allowed to cut dead trees on Crown land without authorization?
  • What should the fines be for forestry violations, and should inspectors get new enforcement powers?

How to Participate

  1. Review the Forest Management Planning Manual and Scaling Manual to understand current forestry rules.
  2. Submit your comments through the Environmental Registry of Ontario consultation page by the deadline.
  3. Email your feedback to forest.policy@ontario.ca.

Submit Your Input

Comment On The Forestry Reform Proposals Draft Email
Questions Being Asked (5)
  1. Should companies be able to self-register to remove trees instead of getting individual permits?
  2. Should the province transfer ownership of reserved trees to private landowners?
  3. Should the Forestry Workers Lien for Wages Act be repealed?
  4. What types and sizes of projects should qualify for permit-by-rule pathways?
  5. What should the amounts be for Administrative Monetary Penalties and offence fines?

Key Documents