- Log in to post comments
On June 4, the Minister of Red Tape Reduction tabled Bill 46, Protect Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act, 2025. This omnibus bill contains several legislative amendments that could affect municipalities, including:
- Amending the City of Toronto Act and the Municipal Act so that the treasurer is no longer required to post the audited financial statements and related documentation, or a notice of such information, in a newspaper having general circulation in the City, but is instead required to post that information on a website of the City within 60 days after receiving those statements.
- Amending the Modernizing Ontario for People and Businesses Act to authorize the minister to collect, use, and disclose personal information to facilitate public consultation with respect to burdens or proposed instruments governed by the Act.
- Amending the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation Act, 2011 to add district social services administration boards (DSSABs) as eligible to apply for affordable loans through Infrastructure Ontario’s Loan Program.
The Province also released its broader spring red tape reduction package, which includes other proposals that, while not currently tied to proposed legislative amendments, could be indicative of legislative, regulatory, or program changes to come.
Of particular note, the government announced that it is “exploring changes to strengthen the strong mayor framework in response to the most recent expansion of the strong mayor framework to 170 additional municipalities that came into effect on May 1, 2025.” During our meeting with Minister Flack at the 2025 AMCTO Conference, we asked for clarification on this announcement. The minister communicated that while strong mayor powers are here to stay, he wants to listen, learn, and have constructive conversations on areas of improvement.
Other proposals in the red tape reduction package that could affect municipalities include:
- Designating Additional Individuals/Positions as Commissioners by Virtue of Office
- Ontario will be consulting on proposed changes to Ontario Regulation 386/12 - Commissioners and Other Persons Who May Take Affidavits to add additional individuals/positions as commissioners by virtue of office to help them avoid the costs and time of applying to become a commissioner for taking affidavits.
- Landlord-Tenant Board Reform
- The Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will explore potential future legislative amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. These changes would help reduce delays and backlogs at the Landlord and Tenant Board. The ministries will work together to identify opportunities that would make the process more efficient, while still preserving parties’ access to justice.
- Explore Feasibility of Enabling New Private Financing Arrangements for Clean Energy Projects
- Ontario is exploring the feasibility of enabling new municipally-administered private financing arrangements for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for commercial and multi-residential properties. New municipally-administered private financing arrangements, as a voluntary financing tool, could help spur construction and economic development, while supporting commercial and multi-residential properties with a new low-cost approach to become more energy efficient at no cost to municipal taxpayers.
- Red Light Camera Program Amendment
- Ontario plans to make it easier for municipalities to establish red light camera programs. These programs help reduce cars running red lights and improve road safety in communities across the province.
We will continue to monitor Bill 46 as it goes through the legislature, as well as proposals in the red tape reduction package for impacts on our members.