Ontario’s private security industry has a rare opportunity right now. The provincial government wants to hear directly from guards, supervisors, and managers about how to modernize the law that sets the ground rules for your work: the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 (PSISA).
This post explains what is happening, why your voice matters, and how to share your views without feeling buried in policy language.
What the PSISA does today:
The PSISA is the law that covers most of the formal rules around private security in Ontario. It deals with:
- Who needs a licence.
- Basic training and testing rules.
- Requirements for uniforms, vehicles, and equipment.
- Record keeping and use of force reports.
- Public complaints and enforcement by the Registrar.
If you work in security in Ontario, you live inside this framework every shift. It shapes your authority, your responsibilities, and the expectations placed on you.
Why the government is reviewing the law now:
The Ministry of the Solicitor General released a discussion paper in December 2025 called “Modernizing Ontario’s Private Security Industry.” Over the past few years, the industry grew from about 92,615 licensed individuals in February 2020 to over 162,000 by February 2025, and the number of licensed businesses also climbed.
The ministry knows the industry looks different now than when the PSISA first came into force. Guards deal with:
- Larger crowds and more complex events.
- Greater risk in healthcare, social services, and retail.
- More pressure to take on roles that feel close to public policing.
- Increased public and media attention when something goes wrong.
The discussion paper is the first step toward updating the law so it fits this reality.
What the discussion paper covers:
The paper focuses on two main themes. Promoting public safety and Reducing burden.
Promoting public safety
This part looks at:
- Who falls under PSISA and who sits outside it right now.
- Oversight of in-house security and exempt sectors.
- Weak points in the complaints and enforcement system.
- Rules and accountability around use of force.
The ministry is asking whether the definition of “security guard” and “private investigator” still makes sense, whether more types of security work should fall under PSISA, and how to strengthen oversight and use-of-force accountability.
Reducing burden
This part looks at:
- Licensing processes.
- Training and testing requirements.
- Record keeping and reporting.
- Clean criminal record rules.
The ministry is exploring ways to reduce unnecessary administrative work while still protecting the public. They also want to update the “clean criminal record” approach so it feels fair while still keeping high safety standards.
Why your voice matters:
Policy staff will read the law, the data, and the case law. That helps, but it does not tell them what your shift feels like at 3 a.m., or how a process slows you down in the field, or what gaps in training make you nervous.
You can see where things break down, such as:
- When training feels outdated or too basic for the risks you face.
- When expectations for use of force feel unclear.
- When the complaints process feels confusing or unfair.
- When licensing rules block good people from entering the industry.
- When record keeping rules demand endless paperwork that adds little value.
The discussion paper invites you to explain these real-world problems and suggest changes. That input shapes how the next version of the law will work for you, your team, and the public.
Common struggles you might highlight:
If you feel unsure what to write, start with problems you know well. For example:
Training and skills
- You might feel that the basic security course does not prepare new guards for mental health crises, addictions, or aggressive groups.
- You might see large differences in training quality between providers.
Use of force and equipment
- You might feel unclear about expectations around handcuffs, batons, or physical control.
- You might worry about liability when your employer issues equipment but does not support ongoing practice and recertification.
Complaints and oversight
- You might feel that serious complaints take too long or do not lead to clear outcomes.
- You might see a gap between rules on paper and enforcement in the field.
Licensing and criminal record issues
- You might work with people who turned their lives around but struggle with old convictions.
- You might see delays in licensing that slow hiring and leave sites short staffed.
These real experiences are exactly what the ministry needs to hear.
Why many guards hesitate to participate:
Many guards and supervisors avoid government consultations because they feel:
- The language is too technical.
- Their views will not matter.
- They lack time or do not know where to start.
The discussion paper uses policy language, but your response does not need to. Plain language is welcome. Short, direct points help policy staff more than long, formal essays.
Your experience is the expertise they need.
Key details you should know:
The ministry invites feedback through the Ontario Regulatory Registry. The discussion paper sets a clear deadline:
Deadline to submit feedback: Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
You have time to think about your response, talk with coworkers, and pull your thoughts together.
How to access the paper and survey
Here is a simple, step-by-step way to take part.
Step 1: Go to the Ontario Regulatory Registry online.
Open your browser and search for “Ontario Regulatory Registry Modernizing Ontario’s Private Security Industry.” Or, follow this link: https://www.regulatoryregistry.gov.on.ca/proposal/52959
Step 2: Download the discussion paper.
On the posting page you will see a link to the discussion paper in PDF form. Download it and save a copy. The file includes all the context and the list of questions the ministry wants people to answer.
Step 3: Find the survey link.
On the same page you will see a link described as a form or survey for feedback. The discussion paper refers to this as the Regulatory Registry survey link. Follow that link when you are ready to submit. You can also click HERE.
Step 4: Read the sections that affect you most.
You do not need to read every word. Focus on the parts that match your work:
- “Scope and Level of Oversight” if you work in high-risk sites or in-house roles.
- “Training and Testing” if you supervise training or worry about skill gaps.
- “Reducing Burden” if you manage licensing, scheduling, or hiring
Make some brief notes while you read.
Step 5: Draft your response in a separate document.
Before you open the survey, you may want to write your thoughts in a Word file or notes app:
- List your role and type of site.
- Explain two or three problems you see under the current system.
- Give one or two real examples for each problem.
- Suggest what change would make things better.
Short, concrete examples help most.
Step 6: Complete the survey and submit.
Once you feel clear on your points, open the survey form from the Regulatory Registry posting. Copy your notes into the appropriate sections. Answer only the questions that fit your experience. Then submit before January 21, 2026.
How supervisors and managers might respond:
If you supervise teams or run a contract or in-house program, your perspective adds another layer:
- You see how training standards affect performance and liability.
- You see how licensing delays affect staffing.
- You manage complaints from clients and the public.
- You carry the risk when policies do not line up with real threats on site.
You might want to submit:
- A personal response as a professional.
- A response on behalf of your company or department.
- Input gathered from your team through a short internal discussion.
The ministry benefits from both individual voices and organized feedback.
How to keep the task manageable:
This process does not need to take a lot of time or energy.
You do not need legal language. You do not need detailed statistics. You do not need to answer every question in the paper.
You only need to:
- Explain who you are and where you work.
- Describe what is not working under PSISA from your view.
- Share real examples of challenges and risks.
- Suggest what better rules or supports might look like.
That level of input is what helps shape better policy.
Conclusion: A chance to shape the future of security in Ontario
The law that governs your licence, your authority, and your daily work is under review. The people who understand its impact best are those who use it every day on sites across Ontario.
If you work as a guard, supervisor, or manager, your experience gives you a say in what comes next. The discussion paper sets the stage. Your feedback fills in the real story.
Read the parts that matter to you. Talk with your team. Put your thoughts in writing. Then submit your feedback through the Regulatory Registry before Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
Your voice will help decide what kind of private security system Ontario builds for the next decade.
References
Government of Ontario. (2005). Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c. 34. https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/05p34
Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General. (2025). Modernizing Ontario’s private security industry consultation survey. https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=KRLczSqsl0u3ig5crLWGXL5zvu69IeFFvMxOU74d9L9UMFZUOFVQSUZESFU1RzNDQjNWS0hGWVowUi4u&route=shorturl
Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General. (2025). Modernizing Ontario’s private security industry [Regulatory Registry proposal]. Ontario Regulatory Registry. https://www.regulatoryregistry.gov.on.ca/proposal/52959