The Ontario government is considering changes to the rules governing private security provision, which could potentially broaden the scope of subject businesses, ease a security guard labour shortage and give the Provincial registrar more enforcement discretion and authority. The Ministry of the Solicitor General is currently seeking public feedback on how Ontario’s Private Security and Investigative Services Act (PSISA) might be updated to address evolving and emerging issues since it was first adopted in 2005.

This comes in step with significant growth in private security employment thus far this decade. The years between 2020 and 2025 brought a 75 per cent jump in the number of licensed personnel — rising from 92,615 to 162,320 individuals — along with a 30 per cent increase in the number of licensed organizations that provide private security services as their core business, which climbed from 850 to 1,115.

A discussion paper posted on the provincial regulatory registry now asks for input on various regulatory considerations, some of which arose through an earlier round of stakeholder consultations in 2023-24. That’s further divided into three categories of proposals and questions related to: public safety oversight and enforcement; training and testing; and administrative processes.

Commercial landlords and property management firms with in-house security staff are flagged for potential additional compliance obligations. Currently, such firms must register with the Ministry and ensure that their security employees are licensed to practice, but they are exempt from many of the requirements that apply to licensed companies that specialize in providing security services. Notably, there are few stipulations related to record-keeping beyond the requirement to submit a list of all employees who are security guards and/or private investigators to the provincial Registrar and to renew the registration at an interval of three years.

In contrast, licensed businesses must collect and retain more detailed employee information and records of workers’ on-the-job conduct. That includes a list of all security guards and private investigators employed at any time within the previous two-year period, along with their employment contracts, workplace assignments and all notes and reports they have produced. As well, licensed businesses must:

• keep a record of every instance in which a security employee uses force:
• conduct location-specific threat assessments before employees can be equipped with handcuffs, batons or firearms; and
• retain documented proof of both employees’ training in the use of handcuffs, batons, firearms and/or dogs, where applicable, and the credentials of their trainers.

Consultation participants are now being asked if those rules should apply more widely, including to registered employers of licensed security guards, armoured vehicle services, locksmiths and security consultants. Input is also sought on other measures to enhance training and accountability related to the use of force, and to strengthen the Registrar’s authority to enforce the Act’s code of conduct and address compliance violations.

The latter rule changes might include giving the Registrar flexibility to interpret the relevancy of past criminal convictions. Currently, a regulation under the Act sets out a prescribed list of offences that would automatically disqualify individuals from obtaining licences unless they have received a formal pardon. However, some industry employers have suggested that rule is too rigid.

“The list, which has not been updated since 2010, includes offences such as theft over $5,000. Industry partners have suggested that such offences should not be an absolute barrier to employment without consideration of other factors such as length of time since the offence and risk to public safety,” the discussion paper states. “The ministry intends to review and strengthen the clean criminal record requirement to ensure fairness while promoting and protecting public safety.”

On the training and testing front, the discussion paper sketches out proposals to update knowledge prerequisites, set more rigorous standards for training providers and introduce requirements to keep first aid certification up-to-date. It also contemplates fast-tracking the licensing process for individuals, such as former police officers or veterans of the armed forces, who are deemed to have relevant training and professional experience.

The consultation is open for submissions until Jan. 21, 2026.

“The ministry also welcomes comments and suggestions on any additional needs and concerns that are not identified in this paper,” it states. “Feedback on any potential costs and benefits is also important for helping the ministry understand the economic, administrative and compliance burden of any of the issues identified in this paper.”