Ontario plans to reduce wait times by up to 80% for archaeological approvals

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It is good news for the building sector as the province wants to cut red tape and wait times when it comes to archaeological approvals.  

“We’re modernizing Ontario’s heritage framework to make processes faster, clearer and easier to navigate,” Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism Graham McGregor said on Tuesday. “By cutting approval timelines by up to 80%, we’re helping get homes and infrastructure built sooner, while continuing to protect Ontario’s archaeological heritage and strengthening our partnerships with Indigenous communities and sector partners.” 

Archaeological approvals are required when building upon possible historical sites, or when artifacts or remains are found on properties. The current four-stage archaeological assessment process can take up to 64 months to complete.  

“Ontario’s current system for managing heritage was designed for yesterday’s problems. It’s a big job to debug it, to modernize it, and to make sure that it serves the needs of archaeologists, other stakeholders, and the First Nations,” said Paul Racher, Managing Principal, Archaeological Research Associates Ltd.  

The province says the proposal will streamline archaeological approvals, expand sector capacity and improve digital tools and services.  

‘Major milestone’

“This is a major milestone in our plan to cut red tape and make Ontario the most competitive place in the G7 to invest and create jobs,” Premier Doug Ford said on X. “We’re cutting approval wait times for archaeological assessments by up to 80%, giving businesses the confidence they need to invest and getting homes and infrastructure built faster.”

The province claims they have “eliminated a backlog of more than 3,000 archaeological reports and improved service delivery by allowing 80% of reports into the report register within 10 business days.” 

The province will implement the proposed changes in phases beginning early next year.  

The ministry has seen a 30% increase in archaeological assessments since 2020. In 2025, the ministry received approximately 3,800 archaeological assessment reports for regulatory review. 

“The announcement shows what is possible with collaboration and cooperation between the development industry, Indigenous communities and archaeologists,” said Scott Andison, CEO of the Ontario Home Builders Association. “When we work together, we see strong progress and the necessary reduction of red tape.” 

ganderson@postmedia.com

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