In July 2025, the Government of Canada launched an initiative to reduce regulatory red tape, including complicated or outdated processes; unnecessary, duplicative or overly burdensome rules; and inefficient or unpredictable regulatory administration or service delivery. Through this exercise, the government seeks to advance the modernization of the federal regulatory framework.
This page provides ongoing updates on the NRCan's 2025 Red Tape Review Progress Report including progress on reducing administrative burden and changes to regulatory requirements.
| Initiative | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Advancing One-Project-One-Review for Major Energy and Infrastructure Projects | Ongoing, on target | Ongoing work with federal partners, provinces, and territories is improving coordination and reducing duplication in project reviews. |
| Accelerating Major Project Reviews Through Digital Innovation | Ongoing, milestone reached | A new dataset and regionally based curated content collections were released on the Open Science and Data Platform in January 2026 to support timely, efficient major project reviews. Additional updates to the Platform are planned for summer 2026, including enhanced mapping tools. These improvements are expected to reduce data processing time by about 25%. |
| Streamlining Access to Information Regarding Federal Mine Permitting Processes Through the Mine Permit Navigator | Ongoing, milestone reached | The Mine Permit Navigator was launched in March 2026, providing a centralized resource to identify federal permitting requirements. Ongoing work will expand its scope and functionality in partnership with provincial and territorial jurisdictions. |
| Initiative | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Modernizing Offshore Oil and Gas Regulations to Increase Efficiency | Ongoing, on target | Engagement with Northern stakeholders is anticipated in fall 2026, followed by broader public engagement on the proposed regulatory amendments. The proposed amendments would modernize and consolidate the five existing offshore oil and gas regulations under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act. They would alsoalign the regulatory framework with the Offshore Petroleum Operations Framework Regulations in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada-Nova Scotia offshore areas, which came into force in 2024, helping to establish a consistent regulatory regime across all of Canada’s offshore areas. The proposed amendments are expected to be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part 1, in late 2027. |
| Streamlining of Regulations and Processes Under the Energy Efficiency Act | Ongoing, on target | The launch of the new Compliance Regulatory Energy Efficiency Database (CREED) electronic reporting system is now complete, providing streamlined reporting of regulatory information by regulated parties and automatic quality control confirmations for stakeholders. Proposed amendments (Amendment 19) are expected to be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I in spring 2026 to remove outdated standards. Work, over the 2026–2027 fiscal year, is also underway to review up to 10 regulated products to inform future regulatory amendments aimed at updating or removing obsolete requirements. |
| Reducing Administrative Burden with Designated Officer Regulations under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act | Ongoing, on target | Early engagement was completed in January 2026, and drafting with the DOJ started in June 2026. Pre-publication is targeted for 2026, with timing subject to coordination and alignment with partners. |
| Initiative | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Modernizing the Federal Explosives Regime to Reduce Regulatory Burden | Ongoing, milestone reached. | Regulatory amendments were pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I in November 2025, and feedback has been reviewed. Final publication is expected in fall 2026. Work is also underway to develop a new online licensing system, with testing planned for late 2026 and a public launch in 2027. NRCan’s ongoing review of stakeholder guidance has included the development of key policies for Separation Distances for Explosives and Storage of Explosives, as well as guidance on how to apply for Division 1 and 2 manufacturing licences, to facilitate stakeholder’s understanding of regulatory requirements. |
| Initiative | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Developing Offshore Renewable Energy Regulations | Ongoing, revised timeline | Pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I now expected in fall 2026. Final publication timing dependent on consultation outcomes. |
| Initiative | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Modernizing the Kimberley Process Certification Program | Ongoing, on target | The online application system launched in November 2024 has reduced processing time by 67%. Additional improvements, including potential QR code integration, are being explored for future implementation. |
| Improving Compliance with the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA) | Ongoing, milestone reached | An online reporting system and client platform was launched in December 2025, making it easier for companies to submit reports and track progress. Additional enhancements are underway and will continue through 2027. |
Last updated: June 2026