Ontario has introduced legislation that could shorten the wait for building permits provincewide, a development glazing contractors are watching because delayed approvals often push back the release of curtain wall and window packages on commercial and residential projects. The proposed Building Ontario Faster Act, 2026 aims to eliminate nearly 220,000 days of permit processing time, according to a report from Daily Commercial News.
The bill was introduced by the Ontario government as part of a broader effort to reduce regulatory barriers, protect Ontario workers from U.S. tariffs and encourage business investment, Ontario Construction News reported. For glazing contractors, faster approvals could mean earlier shop drawing reviews and material releases, helping to avoid project schedule compression that often occurs when windows and curtain wall arrive late in the construction sequence.
What the bill proposes
The proposed legislation is made up of several components. According to the Daily Commercial News, the measures include continuing to review every one of the province’s 375 business-facing permits over three years, with the goal of eliminating, streamlining or transforming 35 to 50 per cent by the end of 2028. The bill would also strengthen and streamline environmental approval processes to align with other provinces and territories and focus resources on environmental protections.
Labour mobility is another pillar. The bill seeks to reduce barriers for workers in regulated professions or occupations from other provinces and territories who want to work in Ontario, a change that could help glazing contractors fill site and shop roles in a tight labour market.
Permit review targets and timeline
Ontario Construction News provided additional detail on the permit review program. The government plans to review all 375 business-facing permits over three years, with a target of eliminating, streamlining or transforming 35 to 50 per cent of them by the end of 2028. It said it has reviewed 51 per cent of the permits during the first year of the initiative, eliminating, streamlining or transforming 65 per cent of those examined.
One measure would accelerate delivery of critical infrastructure projects, including previously announced changes to shorten construction timelines for the expansion of Highway 69 by up to five years. The bill also proposes changes to environmental approval processes to reduce duplication and align Ontario’s requirements with those of other provinces and territories. The government said the changes would maintain environmental protections while improving the efficiency of regulatory reviews.
“As we deliver our government’s historic $236 billion capital plan, we are finding smarter and more efficient ways to get shovels in the ground and build the infrastructure that our communities depend on,” said David Piccini, Minister of Infrastructure. “By creating a digital map of underground infrastructure, we’re giving project teams reliable access to the critical information they need to plan ahead, avoid costly delays and protect workers on construction sites.”
Labour mobility and environmental approvals
The labour mobility measures would reduce barriers for certified workers moving from other provinces and territories. Trevor Jones, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, said the changes will make it easier for those workers to bring their skills to Ontario. “We’re making it easier for certified workers from across Canada to bring their skills to Ontario by streamlining certification requirements and reducing unnecessary barriers,” Jones said, according to Ontario Construction News.
Jones also said the changes will help workers access new opportunities, support employers looking to fill in-demand roles and strengthen Ontario’s competitiveness while maintaining the high standards that protect public safety. The environmental approval changes are intended to reduce duplication and align Ontario’s requirements with other provinces and territories, while maintaining environmental protections. The government said the proposed changes are intended to improve regulatory efficiency while maintaining public health and safety, environmental protections and the Crown’s duty to consult.
Why glazing contractors are watching
For glazing contractors, the most relevant part of the bill may not be the headline infrastructure projects but the cumulative reduction in permit processing days. Curtain wall and window packages are typically released after building envelope details receive municipal approvals. If the bill succeeds in eliminating nearly 220,000 days of permit processing time, some of those days could come from construction permits that directly affect when glazing packages move from design to fabrication.
The digital map of underground infrastructure included in the bill could also help project teams plan ahead, avoid costly delays and protect workers on construction sites, according to Ontario Construction News. While that measure is not glazing-specific, fewer underground conflicts during site preparation can reduce schedule disruptions that ripple into later trades, including glazing installation.
The bill also builds on earlier provincial initiatives to reduce red tape, including the Protect Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act, 2025, the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 and the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026. For contractors, these cumulative changes signal a continued push toward faster approvals.
Canadian regulatory context
While the bill does not change building code requirements, glazing contractors in Ontario already work within the Ontario Building Code and fenestration standards such as CSA A440. Faster permit decisions could shorten the time between building envelope design approvals and the release of window and curtain wall shop drawings. The legislation does not specify new glazing requirements or rebates, and the sources do not indicate any changes to ENERGY STAR Canada thresholds.
The proposed Building Ontario Faster Act, 2026 is now before the legislature. Glazing contractors waiting on delayed projects will be watching whether the permit review targets translate into earlier package releases on their own jobsites.