COVID-19 Tip #10: Ontario Businesses May Request Relief from Government Requirements

The Ontario government announced that businesses may request a temporary change to a regulation or government policy, process or fee where it would facilitate their ability to respond to COVID-19.

For example,  the government suggests that businesses may seek regulatory changes to address the following issues:

• assisting the health care system meet the needs of needs of the emergency;
• assisting businesses in retooling or producing essential or health-related products and supplies; and
• making it easier for businesses to operate remotely or in a non-traditional fashion and to respond to unexpected challenges.

Essentially, the government is offering to reduce “red tape” where it would help a business deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses may request changes via an online form.

The government resource page also highlights regulatory and policy changes to date.