8. Initiatives Involving Third Parties

The AGCO remains committed to partnering and engaging across all the sectors it regulates in order to understand stakeholder perspectives, to identify opportunities to be more effective and efficient, as well as to collaborate with other organizations to improve regulatory outcomes.

The AGCO continues to enhance its engagement toolkit in order to connect with its diverse stakeholder network to seek feedback on the issues they care about. One of these tools is a digital stakeholder engagement platform which provides the agency with access to innovative and accessible approaches to engage with its stakeholders and Ontarians. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this tool has been of particular importance, as it has allowed the AGCO to continue comprehensive consultations and engagements virtually rather than in-person to support public health measure of physical distancing. Incorporating digital tools and programs advances the AGCO’s key commitments to promote a digital first mindset, be customer-centred and responsive, and support innovation and consumer choice.

The AGCO will continue to organize and execute stakeholder engagement activities across all of the sectors it regulates, as well as continuing to actively participate in stakeholder and industry association events in an effort to promote a two-way dialogue.

The AGCO remains committed to building and maintaining partnerships with law enforcement agencies across Ontario, whether through regular contact with members of the Ontario Provincial Police Bureau assigned to the AGCO, through specialized educational seminars and materials on enforcement activities for front-line police officers or information sharing. With respect to information sharing, the AGCO has continued to engage with regional and municipal police services on the Last Drink Program and is developing a pilot program that would automate information sharing.

Nationally, the AGCO is a member organization of the Association of Liquor Licensing Authorities of Canada and the Canadian Association of Gaming Regulatory Agencies and regularly engages with provincial and international colleagues in the cannabis regulation sphere. Internationally, the AGCO continues to be a well-respected member organization of both the International Association of Gaming Regulators and the North American Gaming Regulators Association.

Internationally, the AGCO is also a member of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, the umbrella organization of the official governing rule-making bodies for professional horse racing, which sets international standards for racing regulation.

The AGCO will continue to leverage existing relationships and to proactively establish new ones with other regulators and organizations in order to promote collaboration, information sharing and enhance due diligence processes. This includes leveraging and strengthening existing memoranda of understanding, as well as establishing new agreements.

The AGCO will remain strategic in maintaining, engaging and developing relationships and partnerships with third parties within Ontario, as well as nationally and internationally.