Ontario cutting grocery stores licensing fees for beer and cider by $2000

Ontario – The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Growth said today it is reducing regulatory fees for small, independent grocery stores selling beer, cider and wine by $2,000 per year, representing a 66 per cent savings for qualified businesses.

Jeff Leal, Minister Responsible for Small Business, and Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and Growth, introduced these new legislation:

Reducing fees and other costs: Reviewing licence and registration fees paid with a goal of providing relief to by small- and medium-sized businesses.

Reviewing licence and registration fees paid with a goal of providing relief to by small- and medium-sized businesses. Government procurement: Introducing a preferred procurement policy for small businesses that would help provide better access to government contracts.

Introducing a preferred procurement policy for small businesses that would help provide better access to government contracts. One-window service: Developing a new program that would help small businesses access support, information and resources by phone, online and in person.

Developing a new program that would help small businesses access support, information and resources by phone, online and in person. Reducing regulatory costs : Requiring all ministries to offset every dollar of new administrative costs to business, by removing $1.25 of old and unnecessary costs.

: Requiring all ministries to offset every dollar of new administrative costs to business, by removing $1.25 of old and unnecessary costs. Streamlining compliance for small business : Ensuring that undue burdens aren’t placed on small businesses when new or amended regulations are introduced, while maintaining robust environmental, health and safety requirements and other public interest protections.

: Ensuring that undue burdens aren’t placed on small businesses when new or amended regulations are introduced, while maintaining robust environmental, health and safety requirements and other public interest protections. International or national standards alignment : Increasing harmonization with other jurisdictions and adopting international or national standards, where appropriate, when developing or reviewing regulations.

: Increasing harmonization with other jurisdictions and adopting international or national standards, where appropriate, when developing or reviewing regulations. Rewarding good actors : Recognizing businesses that have a good compliance record and lowering their costs by reducing the requirements, such as the number of inspections, without compromising the environment health and safety, and other protections.

: Recognizing businesses that have a good compliance record and lowering their costs by reducing the requirements, such as the number of inspections, without compromising the environment health and safety, and other protections. Electronic transmission guarantee: Providing businesses the option to electronically submit any required documentation to the Government of Ontario instead of more costly paper submissions.

“We heard from the small business community that the fee to sell alcohol was too high for small grocers. So, we took action. Our independent grocers are a critical component of a prosperous province. These business owners contribute by creating jobs and strengthening local economies. Supporting these business owners by cutting red tape and reducing fees will create new opportunities for growth across Ontario,” said Leal.

These proposed changes would support Ontario’s five-year, $650-million Business Growth Initiative that is helping to grow the economy and create jobs by promoting an innovation-based economy, helping small companies scale-up and modernizing regulations for businesses.