Ministry of Labour

McGuinty Government Making It Easier For Manufacturers To Do Business

New Information Centre Launched To Help Manufacturers Of Plastic Products
    Understand And Meet Legal Responsibilities

    TORONTO, May 1 — The McGuinty government is helping small
businesses that manufacture plastic products understand and comply with
provincial legislation affecting their business by providing a new online
compliance information centre, Labour Minister Steve Peters announced today.
    "We're making it easier for small business owners to comply with laws
that keep their workers, facilities, the environment and the public safe,"
said Peters on opening day of Plast-Ex 2007, a North American tradeshow for
the plastics sector in which the ministry is participating with a display
booth on its inspections, investigations and enforcement activities. "The
Compliance Information Centre for Manufacturers of Plastic Products is going
to help small businesses understand and comply with laws governing their
business by providing important information they need in one place."
    The centre provides regulatory information on topics such as workplace
health and safety, employment standards, environmental protection and the
submission of taxes on one free website.
    "This government is committed to helping small businesses prosper and
succeed," said Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Harinder
Takhar. "It's part of our overall strategy to build a stronger and more
vibrant Ontario."
    The information centre was developed through the combined work of the
Ontario chapter of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association, shop owners,
regulatory ministries and ServiceOntario. ServiceOntario is making it easier
for people and businesses to access government services online, over the
phone, in person or at kiosks.
    The CIC site launched today is located at www.serviceontario.ca/plastics.
    "This is a big step forward for both small business and government," said
Serge Lavoie President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Plastics
Industry Association. "Together we have created an information centre that
allows companies to access regulatory information quickly on what they need to
do to be compliant with many laws."
    The online centre is modelled on the successful Autobody Repair
Compliance Information Centre launched in June 2006. The centre has received
rave reviews by business owners and other key stakeholders. The online centre,
located at www.serviceontario.ca/autobody, received more than 75,000 hits in
the first three months after its launch.
    "Small businesses are the cornerstone of Ontario's economy," said Peters,
"By making it easier to do business in Ontario, we are building a strong
economy."

    

    Disponible en français

                             www.labour.gov.on.ca


    Backgrounder
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                   PLASTICS COMPLIANCE INFORMATION CENTRE:
            HELPING SMALL BUSINESS UNDERSTAND AND MEET REGULATORY
                               RESPONSIBILITIES
    

Contact Info

    The McGuinty government has expanded its successful small business pilot
project to include manufacturers of plastic products, making it easier for the
sector to understand and manage their regulatory obligations.
    Working closely with the sector and the Ontario chapter of the Canadian
Plastics Industry Association, the government launched today the Compliance
Information Centre for Manufacturers of Plastic Products, a website where the
sector will be able to access important regulatory information that pertains
to their businesses. The online centre is modelled on the successful auto body
repair sector Compliance Information Centre launched in June 2006.
    The two small business compliance centres are part of the small business
pilot project designed to increase awareness and understanding of government
requirements among small businesses through outreach and education. The
overall goal is to make it easier for small businesses to understand and
comply with regulatory requirements.

    Improving outreach and education

    The online centre provides regulatory information in a whole new way.
Traditionally, information has been provided in a format that was organized by
statute, requiring multiple searches on individual ministry websites. The
centre provides a single-window point of access for business owners by
compiling regulatory requirements from multiple ministries in an organized,
business-friendly format.
    The website, at www.serviceontario.ca/plastics, was created in
conjunction with stakeholders from the plastics industry. Key features of the
site are:

    

 — A single portal of regulatory information and guides, organized by
           small business activities, rather than by legislation

 — A website that is easy to navigate and provides information on
           legislation specifically applicable to manufacturers of plastic
           products

 — An information centre that includes important provincial
           regulatory requirements and some federal and municipal regulatory
           requirements that will be further expanded as the project
           progresses

 — Online access to key government and industry contacts.
    

    About the plastics sector

    Approximately 48 per cent of Canada's manufacturers of plastic products
are located in Ontario, the majority of which are small- and medium-sized
enterprises. The sector and its employees are a vital contributor to Ontario's
economy.
    Manufacturers of plastic products produce a wide range of consumer goods,
including tubing, sheets, car parts, rug underlay and packaging.
    In manufacturing these products, the plastics sector works with a number
of chemical agents and processes that are potentially hazardous to human
health and the environment. To ensure a high level of protection for the
public, workers and environment, the sector is subject to regulation by the
provincial, municipal and federal governments.

    The auto body pilot project

    The online centre for manufacturers of plastic products is based on the
successful compliance information centre developed for auto body repair shops
in June 2006. The site, located at www.serviceontario.ca/autobody, received
over 75,000 hits in the first three months after its launch, and visitors to
the site continue to provide positive feedback about the initiative.
    The site was subsequently enhanced to provide an industry view of
regulatory information. Shops can access regulatory information by end-user,
for example, by worker, employer, customer or facility.
    The site was developed with input from the auto body repair industry,
including the Collision Industry Action Group (CIAG), the Hamilton District
Autobody Repair Association (HARA) and auto body repair shop owners.

    Changing the way we do business

    The small business compliance information centres are part of a broader
strategy to modernize regulatory compliance in Ontario.  The other components
of the modernization strategy include:

    

 — The proposed Regulatory Modernization Act, 2006 that, if passed,
           would enable regulatory ministries to work together more
           effectively to protect consumers, workers, natural resources and
           the environment.  By changing the government's approach to
           regulatory compliance, the government can share and use compliance
           information more effectively, target enforcement efforts where
           they count, and reduce duplication in compliance activities.

 — Strategies that would recognize businesses with exceptional
           records of compliance-while targeting enforcement efforts at
           businesses that commit serious, repeat violations.

    Disponible en français

                             www.labour.gov.on.ca