Ontario trapping rules updated: new beaver damage authorization, gender-neutral language, and firearm clarifications

Several changes are being made to Ontario's trapping regulation in two stages. First, the Minister will gain authority to issue special authorizations allowing licensed trappers to harass, capture, or kill beaver outside the normal open season when beaver are causing damage to property or infrastructure that cannot be addressed through other means under the Act — this applies to specified Crown land or, with written permission, other land. Second, a series of housekeeping amendments replace gendered pronouns ("he or she," "his or her") with gender-neutral language throughout the regulation, without changing any substantive rights or obligations. Third, the nighttime firearm rules for farmers dispatching trapped furbearing mammals are reworded to refer to any firearm that "exclusively uses rim-fire cartridges" rather than specifically a "rim-fire rifle," which may affect what firearms qualify. Trappers, head trappers, apprentice trappers, and farmers who trap should review the updated conditions to ensure their practices remain compliant.

Wildlife possession and fur-trade rules updated: Registry replaced, records expanded, and beaver castoreum trade permitted

A set of staged amendments updates Ontario's rules on possessing, buying and selling wildlife carcasses, pelts, hides, and cast antlers. The online Ministry Registry system for submitting notices of possession will be replaced by a Ministry-established format; the Ministry will issue confirmation of receipt, and people must keep that confirmation while the carcass or pelt is in their possession. Fur dealer record-keeping requirements are expanded — dealers must now capture licence details of the person they bought from, flag farmed-animal pelts, and retain records for five years instead of two after licence expiry. New provisions explicitly permit licensed fur dealers to buy and sell untreated beaver castoreum, and allow personal-use buyers to purchase it without a separate licence. Several provisions also update gendered pronouns to gender-neutral language throughout the regulation.

Effective date for two hunting tag rule changes pushed back to January 1, 2027

Two upcoming changes to how hunters must handle invalidated tags — covering possession of untagged animals and the rules for keeping a tag on a carcass until processing — have had their effective dates shifted from July 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027. The substantive rules themselves are unchanged: hunters will still be required to keep a physical tag or digital label attached to an animal from the kill site until the animal reaches the processing site and is being prepared for long-term storage. Hunters and outfitters who were preparing for a mid-2026 compliance deadline now have until the start of 2027 before the new tag-and-label wording takes effect. The change also adds a reference to an additional amending regulation alongside the previously cited one.

Upcoming rules lock water and wastewater public corporations to public ownership and protect employees during asset transfers

A set of amendments — not yet in force — will tighten the rules governing water and wastewater public corporations (WWPCs) in Ontario once activated by order. When the changes take effect, WWPCs may only be designated if all shares are held by a municipality, Ontario, Canada, or their agents, and shares can only be issued or transferred to those same parties. A new asset-transfer restriction will prevent a WWPC from disposing of water or sewage infrastructure unless its board first passes a resolution declaring the asset surplus. Municipalities making transfer by-laws will be required to set an effective date for each transfer, and debenture-related liabilities will be excluded from those transfers. Employees moved to a WWPC through a transfer by-law will have continuous employment, will not be considered terminated or constructively dismissed, and the corporation will be treated as a successor employer for labour-relations and pay-equity purposes. The Minister will also gain new regulation-making powers covering debt obligations linked to transferred capital works and the legal effect of transfer by-laws on contracts and rights. None of these changes are in force yet; each takes effect on a date to be set by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Ontario drinking water law updated to recognize new water and wastewater public corporations and streamline consent rules

Ontario has amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to expand the definition of 'municipal drinking water system' to include systems owned by corporations designated as water and wastewater public corporations under the new Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025 — though this particular change takes effect only when a separate provision of that Act comes into force. Separately, a new deemed-consent rule is now in force: if a person obtains municipal consent for a water public utility under the relevant provision of the Municipal Act, 2001, that consent automatically counts as written consent under the Safe Drinking Water Act, removing the need to seek a second, parallel approval. The deemed-consent provision also clarifies that certain liability and abandonment rules do not apply to these deemed consents. Operators of water systems that rely on municipal consents, and any corporations that may be designated as water and wastewater public corporations, should review how these changes affect their approval and consent obligations.

Ontario removes two regulation-making powers under Building Code Act and clarifies that municipal environmental bylaws can coexist with the Building Code

Two previously existing regulation-making powers have been repealed: the authority to prescribe specific building code provisions and conditions/limits for the purposes of related municipal-act sections no longer exists under the Building Code Act. Separately, a new interpretive provision confirms that municipal bylaws governing construction or demolition of buildings — including bylaws that set construction standards to protect or conserve the environment — are among the bylaws that can apply alongside the Building Code. This means municipalities have explicit legislative backing when they enact environmental construction standards, even though the Building Code still prevails if there is a direct conflict on covered subject-matter. Builders, developers, and municipalities involved in construction projects should review whether local environmental construction bylaws now have a clearer legal footing and adjust compliance processes accordingly.

Ontario Planning Act overhauled: standardized official plan structure, new EV and parking rules, expanded County of Simcoe planning changes

Ontario's Planning Act has been significantly amended by the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026. The most sweeping change (not yet in force) requires all Ontario municipalities and planning boards to rewrite their official plans using a mandatory standardized structure — prescribed chapter titles, section numbering, schedule formats, and a fixed set of land use designations (e.g., Neighbourhoods, Mixed Use Areas, Employment Areas). Larger urban centres face a 2028 deadline; all others and planning boards face 2029. Separately, zoning by-laws and site plan agreements can no longer require owners to provide electric vehicle supply equipment in connection with parking facilities, and there is a new cap on minimum lot size requirements for urban residential land outside the Greenbelt. The County of Simcoe is being phased in as an upper-tier municipality without planning responsibilities, initially for Bradford West Gwillimbury, Innisfil and New Tecumseth, with broader expansion to follow by order-in-council. Site plan control provisions have also been narrowed: references to sustainable design elements on adjoining highways are replaced with a health, safety, accessibility and adjoining-lands test, and certain notice requirements for ministerial plan orders have been repealed.

Future-dated amendment notes removed as changes from O. Reg. 123/26 are now in force

The regulation governing occupation of public lands has been updated to incorporate changes that were previously flagged as upcoming amendments taking effect in May 2026. Those future-dated notes have been removed and the new rules are now part of the consolidated text. Key practical changes now in effect include: bridges and short-term bridges being governed under a new separate section from culverts and causeways; mobile wind testing equipment and environmental monitoring equipment being explicitly listed as authorized occupations with their own conditions; a new prohibition on occupying lands that are archaeological sites or areas where artifacts or human remains have been found; a requirement to stop work and notify the Ministry if archaeological artifacts or human remains are discovered during an occupation; and notice to vacate can now be delivered by email in addition to posting, personal delivery, or registered mail. Anyone occupying or planning to occupy public lands under this regulation should review the updated conditions applicable to their specific activity.

Ontario updates public lands work permit rules: new definitions, registration system, artifact/remains duties, and geotechnical exemption

Ontario has consolidated a series of previously announced amendments to the public lands work permit regulation into the main text. Key practical changes include: the definition of 'shore lands' is now based on the high-water mark (not just seasonal inundation), with a new clarification that spring freshet or extreme flooding alone does not make land 'shore lands'; the term 'water crossing' is replaced throughout by the specific terms 'bridge, culvert or causeway'; and the old paper-based notice-of-activity form system for several exempt activities (building on mining claims, erosion control structure repair, etc.) is replaced by an online geographic-point registration process, with work allowed to start 10 days after Ministry confirmation rather than upon receipt of the form. Two new mandatory duties apply to anyone carrying out regulated activities on public lands: all work must stop immediately if an artifact is discovered and the Ministry must be notified by email, and all work must stop if human remains are found and police or a coroner must be notified. A new permit-free exemption is added for geotechnical investigations by test pit, trench or borehole where specified conditions are met. Operators planning dredging, filling, erosion control, vegetation removal, building placement on mining claims, or trail and road construction on public lands should review the updated registration requirements and new stop-work obligations before commencing work.

Ontario renewable energy approvals rules updated: Indigenous terminology, qualified-person assessments, and new biogas exemption

This amendment makes several practical changes to the rules governing Renewable Energy Approvals under the Environmental Protection Act. All references to 'aboriginal communities' have been replaced with 'Indigenous communities' throughout the regulation, which affects consultation lists, notices, document distribution, and reporting obligations for project applicants. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport are renamed to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism respectively, changing where applicants must submit archaeological and heritage assessment reports and obtain comments. The previous requirement to get written confirmation from the Ministry of Natural Resources that natural heritage assessments were correctly conducted has been replaced by a self-attestation system: applicants must now have a 'qualified person' (as defined in the Natural Heritage Assessment Guide) conduct and attest to assessments, with written confirmation from that qualified person submitted as part of the approval application. A new exemption from the approval requirement is added for small biogas facilities (10 MW or less) located on the site of a business whose primary purpose is not electricity generation, with transition provisions for existing projects and pending applications. Applicants who submitted natural heritage reports to the Ministry of Natural Resources before the six-month transition deadline may complete their applications under the prior rules.

Ontario updates wildlife-in-captivity rules: new annual reporting for falconry licence holders, revised log-book retention, and gender-neutral language throughout

A set of amendments updates the regulation governing wildlife kept in captivity in Ontario, with changes falling into three main areas. First, holders of general, apprentice, and commercial falconry licences will be required to submit annual reports to the Minister in a prescribed format; general and apprentice licence holders must file by December 31 of the licence year, while commercial licence holders have until January 31 of the following year. Second, log-book retention rules are being clarified: for amphibians and reptiles, the five-year retention period will run from when the log book was required to be kept (rather than from licence expiry), and for specially protected raptors the obligation to keep copies is replaced with an obligation to keep the log book itself for five years from licence or authorization expiry. Third, numerous provisions replace gendered pronouns ('his or her') with gender-neutral language ('their' or 'the Minister's'), and several eligibility references are updated to refer to licences issued 'under the Act' rather than only under this specific regulation. Zoo operators, falconry licence holders, and persons keeping reptiles, amphibians, or raptors in captivity should review their record-keeping and reporting practices ahead of the changes taking effect.

Ontario fish licensing rules updated: outdoors cards, cross-border fishing rights, and language modernized

A package of amendments to Ontario's fish licensing regulation makes several practical changes taking effect in mid-2026. The definition of 'outdoors card' is broadened so that a card identified on a licence summary counts as an outdoors card, and the licence summary itself is updated to also cover falconry licences and outdoors cards — not just fishing and hunting licences. The temporary carry-the-paper-copy workaround (for people awaiting their physical outdoors card in the mail) is being removed, meaning anglers will need to have their actual card or a qualifying document. Cross-border fishing rights are updated: Manitoba residents fishing specified Ontario border waters must now carry an 'angling licence' (replacing the old 'regular fishing licence' reference), the list of eligible Manitoba lakes is revised, and Quebec residents with valid Quebec sport fishing licences are formally recognized as able to fish in specified Ontario boundary waters. Active Canadian Forces members can now use a Temporary Identification Card (NDI 10) — in addition to the existing NDI 20 — as their deemed fishing licence, while veterans' eligibility is narrowed to the Veteran's Service Card only. The two species (Round Goby and Tubenose Goby) that require a licence to buy or sell are reclassified as 'invasive species' rather than 'fish that do not exist in Ontario waters.' Throughout, gendered pronouns are replaced with gender-neutral language.

Future repeal of two Financial Administration Act exemptions flagged in Electricity Act consolidation

The consolidated text of the Electricity Act now includes editorial notes signalling that two provisions — one exempting certain Part transactions from section 28 of the Financial Administration Act (s. 51), and another doing the same for securities-related orders involving Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation (s. 122(3)) — are scheduled for repeal on a date still to be set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. No repeal has taken effect yet; these are prospective amendments recorded in the statute's amendment history. Entities involved in transactions covered by those exemptions — particularly those relying on the carve-out from Financial Administration Act approval requirements — should be aware that those exemptions will eventually disappear and plan accordingly.

Ontario's 36 conservation authorities will be amalgamated into 9 regional authorities starting February 2027

Beginning on the 'transition date' (currently set for February 1, 2027, subject to change by regulation), Ontario's existing 36 conservation authorities will be merged into nine newly named regional conservation authorities, plus one renamed authority (the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority becomes the Northwestern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority). All assets, liabilities, employees, contracts, permits, licences and ongoing proceedings transfer automatically to the new authority, and employment is deemed continuous with no termination or constructive dismissal. A new transition framework introduces transition committees (chaired by Agency-appointed project executives) to prepare amalgamation plans for each new authority, and places temporary prohibitions on establishing, enlarging, merging or dissolving authorities outside this process. Existing conservation authorities, their member municipalities, employees and parties to contracts or agreements with those authorities should begin reviewing how the amalgamation rules, member appointment processes, watershed council requirements and revised governance provisions will apply to their organization.

Ontario creates the Protect Ontario Account Investment Fund as a new designated purpose account under the Financial Administration Act

The amendment establishes a new designated purpose account called the Protect Ontario Account Investment Fund (Fonds d'investissement du compte Protéger l'Ontario). The Minister of Finance is required to set up this fund, and the Lieutenant Governor in Council may authorize amounts to be deposited into it on terms the Minister determines. Money in the fund can be spent on investments that promote innovation, infrastructure development, long-term economic growth, and other strategic provincial priorities. Unlike most government investments, expenditures for this fund are not charged to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the same way—a specific carve-out removes that default rule for this fund. Returns and proceeds from investments flow back into the fund, though the Minister can direct some proceeds to remain in the Consolidated Revenue Fund instead. Regulations may be made prescribing terms, conditions, and restrictions on the securities and instruments the Minister may hold for this fund's purposes.

Farm and managed forest properties shielded from Toronto storm water fees, with refund rules for overpayments

Toronto and its local boards are being prohibited from charging storm water management fees or charges against portions of properties classified as farm or managed forest under the Assessment Act. An exception applies where storm water drains directly from a private storm sewer on the property into a City-owned storm sewer. Where fees were collected contrary to this new limit, the City or local board must refund the affected amounts and pay interest — calculated at the lowest Schedule I bank prime rate — starting either from the date the rule takes effect (for payments already received) or 90 days after receipt (for payments received afterward). Property owners with farm or managed forest classifications who have been paying storm water charges to the City of Toronto should review whether a refund may be owed to them. The section on police record check fees was also updated to replace 'municipality' with 'City' and 'local board (extended definition),' a terminology clarification with no apparent change in practical scope.

Municipalities barred from charging storm water fees to farm and managed forest properties — with refund obligation

A new rule blocks municipalities and local boards from imposing storm water management fees or charges on land classified as farm property or managed forests under the Assessment Act. The ban has a narrow exception: if storm water from the affected portion of a property drains directly from an on-site storm sewer into a municipal storm sewer system, the charge may still apply. Where fees were already collected contrary to this new limit, the municipality or local board must refund the affected amounts and pay interest — at the lowest Bank of Canada Schedule I prime rate — starting either from when the rule takes effect (for pre-existing payments) or 90 days after receipt (for payments made after the rule takes effect). Farm operators and managed forest landowners who have been paying municipal storm water charges should review their accounts to determine whether a refund may be owed.