ONTARIO – The province of Ontario has accepted a challenge from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) to adopt digital technologies.
The CFIB want to see the Ontario government replace all fax machines by the end of 2020 and other outdated paper forms with digital technology.
“Outdated forms and paper-based processes are the red tape of 2020,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. “With technologies available today, people and businesses shouldn’t have to waste time and money dealing with the government by fax or mail. We’re going to continue to be a leader in embracing digital technologies to make it simpler and faster to interact with the government.”
According to the government’s Associate Ministry of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, there are several steps that they have implemented to create efficiencies where it comes to paper work.
- Ontario has allowed auto insurance companies to provide electronic proof of insurance on mobile devices, giving consumers the option to keep an electronic insurance card on their cellphone instead of, or as well as, a paper version.
- Since Ontario launched a new Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service, nearly half of Ontarians who purchase a hunting and fishing licence do so online instead of waiting in line.
- To ensure that waste is properly stored, transported, recycled, recovered and disposed of, Ontario is moving to an electronic registry for waste. This includes a system that will enable tracking in real time of where hazardous waste is being transported and stored across the province, moving away from slower paper reporting.
- Ontario is allowing pension plan administrators to communicate electronically with plan members as well as by traditional mail.
- In 2020, pharmaceutical manufacturers that submit applications for new drugs to be covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit Program — which average 750 to 1,000 pages — can do so electronically instead of on paper in multiple binders.
“Every day, our government is working to improve services and transform how we do business in Ontario,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Government and Consumer Services. “Our approach to digital first, not digital only, will allow Ontarians to access government services the way they choose. Through the Digital First Strategy, we are continuing to improve service delivery across the province while reducing the need for old technology.”
