Municipal Must-Knows: Recent Legislative Updates - Part 1

Note: This is the first of a three-part blog series on recent legislation.

The last few weeks have been busy from a legislative perspective, with the Government using a shortened legislative session that rose June 5 to introduce, and in some cases, quickly pass legislation. Unfortunately, quick passage has meant limited opportunities to submit feedback to standing committees. 

That said, here is what we have been monitoring from an Issue Profile and advocacy perspective, and the takeaways municipal staff may find relevant to their work:

Bill 2, Protecting Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, 2025

• Relevant sections include Schedule 6, which amends the Ontario Labour Mobility Act (OLMA) to make it easier for workers moving from provinces with reciprocal measures to be certified to work in Ontario. The OLMA lists municipal governmental regulatory authorities - public acts as per the City of Toronto Act (COTA) and the Municipal Act (MA). Municipal staff may need to review relevant procurement bylaws in conjunction with the new measures and ensure that any other policies or bylaws in place that relate to the regulation of occupations are consistent with the Act.
• The Bill has received Royal Assent

Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing Economy Act, 2025

• This omnibus legislation makes changes to development approvals and local regulations, such as allowing the designation of "special economic zones" including geographic areas and "trusted proponents" or project exemptions from provincial legislation and regulations, and from municipal or local board bylaws. These zones are governed by the enacted Special Economic Zones Act, 2025, which provides authority to the Lieutenant Governor in Council (i.e., cabinet) to designate such an area. Municipal staff in zones designated under the Act may have to assess the local impacts of this action, including assessing project-by-project and proponent-by-proponent, to determine which bylaws may be set aside.
• The Bill has received Royal Assent

Bill 6, Safer Municipalities Act 

• This reintroduced Bill provides municipalities with more authority to manage encampments and keep parks clean and safe. It amends the Trespass to Property Act, providing additional penalties for trespassing. The Bill also re-introduces the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act that allows police officers and other provincial offences officers to direct individuals to stop using illegal substances or to leave public spaces and issue tickets or make arrests for non-compliance. There are likely budgetary and operational impacts with this, including related to bylaw enforcement and the increased use of the Provincial Offences Act (POA) court system. 
• The Bill has received Royal Assent

Bill 9, Municipal Accountability Act, 2025 

• This Bill reintroduces the Municipal Accountability Act, which died on the order paper due to the Provincial election. As an Association, we have provided several comments with respect to the proposal through a regulatory submission. We will also be looking to delegate at Standing Committee when the opportunity becomes available. 
• The Bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage Infrastructure and Cultural Policy

Stay tuned for part 2, where we'll be breaking down more impacts of recent legislation on local government and municipal staff.