Cleveland-Cliffs, the U.S.-based owner of Stelco, has come under scrutiny following plans to lay off nearly 500 workers, raising concerns about the future of steel production and employment in Ontario.

Under one of the proposed approaches, known as a “shot clock,” permits would be automatically approved if the government fails to make a decision within a prescribed timeframe, although deadlines could be paused when applications are incomplete. The government estimates the changes approved so far would collectively eliminate almost 220,000 days of permit processing time once implemented. The bill marks one of the Ford government's first major legislative initiatives of the fall session.

With the province's pause on payments expected to remain in place until the new year, the government now faces pressure to distinguish between the 'bad actors' and those operating legitimately.