After months of door-knocking, phone-banking, and friendly (or not) debating, the 2026 Ontario municipal elections delivered mixed results. Most incumbents won re-election, but some municipalities chose a new generation of leaders.
For small businesses, the campaigns focused in part on red tape, property taxes, fiscal responsibility, government efficiency, and downtown revitalization. These platform planks offer a preview of how newly elected officials may tackle small business concerns once in office.
New councils will be sworn in mid-November, and CFIB is ready to put small business priorities front and centre. We will use our Ontario Small Business Municipal Platform to secure meetings in key municipalities, with red tape reduction leading the agenda. It was your #1 municipal ask this fall: 73% of Ontario small business owners want candidates to cut red tape on building and renovation permits, business licensing, and sign approvals.
We are also launching a Red Tape Challenge, calling on every mayor and council to adopt three measures:
Appoint a Red Tape Reduction Commissioner and set up a Red Tape Reduction Office, using existing staff.
Count every municipal by-law, policy, and form to set a regulatory burden baseline, then cut what is unnecessary, excessive, or duplicative.
Launch a Red Tape Feedback Portal so businesses and residents can report problems directly to their municipality.
We will track what municipalities do and publicly recognize every mayor and council that adopts these measures.
Finally, CFIB’s op-ed in the Toronto Sun made the case that cutting municipal red tape gives small businesses a real boost.
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