Ontario Place zoning order updated: Block 3 expanded with new Theatre Parcel and East Plaza zones, bridges and uses added

The zoning order for Ontario Place has been significantly amended to expand and redefine Block 3, splitting it into two distinct sub-areas: the Theatre Parcel (where a building footprint of up to 15,250 sq m and a maximum height of 40 metres is permitted) and the East Plaza (up to 4,000 sq m of building coverage, maximum 6 metres and one storey, with exceptions near certain lot lines). Block 3 no longer has a gross floor area cap. New permitted uses on Block 3 include automated banking machines, performing arts studios, and production studios, and both Block 1 and Block 2 may now accommodate uses ancillary to Block 3. Up to two bridges may connect Block 3 to Block 1 or Block 2, with specific width, height, enclosure, and use restrictions for each bridge. Site plan control under the City of Toronto Act now also excludes Block 3. The term 'seasonal buildings and structures' has been renamed 'seasonal buildings, structures and vehicles' and take-out eating establishments are now listed separately from eating establishments throughout the permitted-uses list. Operators and developers planning activity on Ontario Place land should review the updated block boundaries, building coverage limits, height rules, bridge provisions, and permitted-use lists to ensure compliance.

Parking exemption for long-term care facility in Port Hope zoning order has been revoked

The provision that waived the minimum parking requirement for a long-term care facility on this site has been formally revoked and removed from the regulation. All other site-specific zoning rules remain in place: accessory buildings with waste storage must be in a side or rear yard, loading space may be in an exterior side yard, and the Institutional–Urban zone standards apply with a maximum building height of 26 metres for a long-term care facility. Developers or operators planning a long-term care facility on this site should now check whether standard municipal parking requirements under the Port Hope Zoning By-law apply to their project. The change also adds regulatory source citations to each remaining subsection, which is a housekeeping update with no substantive effect.

Boundary maps updated for three Northwestern Ontario local roads areas

The regulation has been updated to reference new Ministry of Transportation boundary plans for three local roads areas in Northwestern Ontario: Lyon (Township of Lyon, Thunder Bay District), Stirling (Township of Stirling, Thunder Bay District), and Van Horne (Township of Van Horne, Kenora District). Each area's description now points to a newly filed plan rather than the previously referenced plan. The practical effect is that the official mapped boundaries for these local roads areas have been revised. Local roads boards, property owners, and municipal administrators in these townships should consult the updated Ministry of Transportation plans to confirm the current boundaries of each area.

Chiefs of police can now formally request temporary help from RCMP, other Canadian police services, Coast Guard, or Armed Forces

A new provision specifies which outside bodies an Ontario police chief may formally request temporary assistance from under the Community Safety and Policing Act. The approved sources are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, any provincial, municipal, or First Nation police service from another Canadian jurisdiction, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Canadian Armed Forces. This expands the regulatory framework governing how Ontario police services can bring in outside support during emergencies or situations requiring additional resources. Police chiefs, municipal police service boards, and First Nation police services should be aware that these external assistance arrangements now have an explicit regulatory basis.

Ontario seizes control of Billy Bishop Airport lands from City of Toronto and bans further city dealings

Ontario has enacted a new law that allows the provincial Crown to take ownership of specified Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport lands and all buildings, structures, fixtures and improvements on those lands currently owned or controlled by the City of Toronto. Once land is prescribed by the Minister, ownership vests in the Crown and the City loses all authority over it. Effective immediately upon the Act receiving First Reading (retroactively), the City is prohibited from selling, encumbering, or otherwise dealing with any of the identified airport properties, and any attempt to do so is void. The City is also deemed to have assigned its rights and obligations under the 1983 Tripartite Agreement (between Canada, Toronto and the Toronto Port Authority) to the Crown. The Crown must pay the City market-value compensation based on an appraisal, with disputes resolved by binding arbitration, but nearly all other legal claims against the Crown arising from this Act are extinguished. City of Toronto officials should immediately notify the Minister of any pending dealings involving these lands and review their obligations under the Tripartite Agreement.

Ontario creates new provincial rules requiring transit systems in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area to align fares, payment, and accessibility services

A new Ontario law establishes provincial authority over local transit systems operating in Toronto, Hamilton, and the four surrounding regional municipalities (Durham, Halton, Peel, York). The Minister of Transportation can now set fare structures, require all covered transit systems to join a common fare payment platform, designate cross-boundary priority routes with minimum service standards, and apportion fare revenue among systems sharing a geographic zone. Specialized transit operators serving people with disabilities must join a unified trip booking system and, on request, provide door-to-door service beyond their usual boundaries without requiring a transfer, at no charge for a support person. Municipalities and their transit agencies must file compliance reports and respond to ministerial information requests; no private lawsuits may be brought against governments, agencies, or Metrolinx arising from actions taken under this law.

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.

Public Inquiries Act updated to flag two pending expansions of inquiry scope for Toronto and Ontario municipalities

Two future amendments have been flagged in the consolidated text of the Public Inquiries Act, 2009, though neither is yet in force. When proclaimed, the first change will add a new City of Toronto Act provision (s. 160.0.2(3)) to the list of inquiries covered by the Act's procedural rules. The second will do the same for a new Municipal Act, 2001 provision (s. 223.4.0.2(3)). Until proclamation, the current list of covered inquiries remains unchanged. Organizations subject to integrity commissioner or similar municipal inquiry processes under either the City of Toronto Act or the Municipal Act should watch for the proclamation date, as it will bring additional inquiry types under the Act's procedural framework.

Toronto's code-of-conduct and accountability rules for councillors overhauled, green-roof and zoning provisions repealed

Several significant changes have been made to the City of Toronto Act. The City's power to require buildings to meet environmental or green-roof construction standards under its own by-laws (section 108.1) has been repealed, and a clarification added that construction standards — including environmental standards — fall under general site-plan exclusions rather than a separate by-law power. The section that explicitly confirmed Toronto's authority to regulate minimum parcel area, density and height in zoning by-laws (section 113(1)) has also been repealed. On the accountability side, a new multi-step process is being introduced (not yet in force) for removing a councillor or local board member from their seat: the City's Integrity Commissioner can recommend removal to the provincial Integrity Commissioner of Ontario, who then conducts an independent inquiry and, if criteria are met, reports to council; a unanimous vote of eligible councillors is required to declare the seat vacant and trigger a four-year disqualification. The code of conduct will shift from a City-established document to one prescribed by the province through regulation. City councillors, local board members, developers seeking site-plan approval, and anyone engaged in municipal accountability proceedings are most affected. Those relying on section 108.1 by-law powers or the section 113(1) zoning authority should review how those matters are now addressed under the general Planning Act and building-code frameworks.

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.

Non-profit retirement homes are now exempt from municipal development charges in Ontario

A new exemption removes development charges for retirement home projects developed by provincially or federally incorporated non-profit corporations in good standing. Any development charge that became payable before the new provision took effect is not covered by the exemption, but future instalment payments that would otherwise have come due afterward are also relieved. Non-profit operators planning or currently building retirement home facilities should review whether their projects qualify and confirm their corporate status under either the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 or the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. Related rules on payment timing for front-ending agreements have also been updated to align with revised instalment provisions. Organizations that may qualify should verify their standing under the applicable not-for-profit statute and consult with their municipality about how the exemption applies to charges already levied.

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.

Upcoming wording fix to how Bail Act liens bind registered land — not yet in force

A future amendment (not yet active) will update the language describing when a certificate of lien under the Bail Act can bind registered land. The current text refers broadly to 'any certificate of lien under the Bail Act'; once the new wording takes effect, it will narrow this to certificates of lien 'continued under section 8.4 of the Bail Act.' This is a technical clarification that aligns the Land Titles Act with changes made to the Bail Act. The amendment has no practical effect until proclaimed in force by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Parties involved in real estate transactions or execution proceedings where Bail Act liens are a factor should watch for the proclamation date.

Protection corridor maps updated for SickKids and St. Michael's Hospital heliport flight paths

The zoning order that restricts building heights near two Toronto hospital heliports has been updated to reference new official corridor maps. The map numbers defining the protected air corridors for The Hospital for Sick Children and St. Michael's Hospital have changed, meaning the geographic boundaries of the height-restriction zones are now determined by the newly filed maps rather than the previous ones. Anyone planning construction, installing cranes, antennas, or other structures near these hospitals should consult the updated maps (now numbered 391 and 392, filed at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at 777 Bay Street) to determine whether their project falls within a restricted area. Two housekeeping provisions in the regulation have also been formally revoked. Developers, architects, and project managers with active or planned projects in the vicinity of either hospital heliport should verify compliance against the updated corridor boundaries.

New regulation names specific federal drug offence as trigger for Ontario's illegal drug premises law

A new Ontario regulation identifies one specific federal offence — contravening the provision of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that relates to certain drug-related activity — as a "prescribed offence" under Ontario's Measures Respecting Premises with Illegal Drug Activity Act, 2025. This designation is significant because that provincial Act allows authorities to take action against premises where prescribed offences have occurred. Property owners, landlords, and operators of commercial or residential spaces should be aware that a conviction or finding related to this federal offence can now trigger Ontario's premises-based enforcement tools. Businesses and property owners who lease or manage spaces should review their tenant screening and lease compliance practices in light of this connection between federal drug offences and provincial premises powers.

New rule delays ward-count determination for Niagara Region and Simcoe County until after nomination day for 2026 elections

A new regulation modifies the timing of a specific electoral determination for the Regional Municipality of Niagara and the County of Simcoe. Normally, a determination about council composition under section 275 of the Municipal Act, 2001 must be made before a set point in the election cycle; this regulation delays that determination until after nomination day for the 2026 regular election. This affects the new councils being formed under the restructuring provisions in sections 218.2 and 218.2.1 of the Act. Candidates, municipal clerks, and election administrators in these two municipalities should be aware that the ward or seat count will not be finalized until after the nomination period closes for the 2026 vote.

New special election rules for Port Colborne and certain upper-tier municipalities for the 2026 regular election

A new regulation sets out transitional rules for the 2026 regular municipal election in the City of Port Colborne following changes made by the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026. Anyone who had already filed a nomination for a council office (other than head of council) in Port Colborne is deemed to have withdrawn that nomination unless, within 21 days of this regulation coming into force, they notify the clerk of the office they wish to contest, file for a different office, or formally withdraw. The city clerk is required to promptly notify all affected nominees in writing, explain the changes, and provide the required form for indicating a preferred office. Where a candidate switches their nominated office by notifying the clerk, the clerk will issue new spending-limit certificates based on the revised office — the normal re-nomination certificate process does not apply. The regulation also shields clerks in Port Colborne and in specified upper-tier municipalities from compliance orders solely because they acted before or after these changes took effect while managing election administration in good faith during the transition.

New regulation sets council size and ward boundaries for three Niagara-region municipalities for the 2026–2030 term

A new regulation establishes the composition of councils for the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the City of Thorold, and the City of Port Colborne for the council term beginning in 2026. Each council will have seven members, including the head of council. In Niagara-on-the-Lake and Thorold, all members will be elected by general (at-large) vote. In Port Colborne, the head of council is elected at large while the remaining six members are elected two per ward across three defined wards, whose boundaries are set out in the regulation. The 2026 municipal election must be run as though these structures are already in place. Each municipality retains the ability to change its own council composition through the normal process for elections after 2026.

Ontario school zone speed sign specifications consolidated and simplified into fewer sections

The regulation governing the physical specifications for school zone speed limit signs near designated highway portions has been restructured. Previously spread across five separate sections (5.0.0.1 through 5.0.0.5 and 5.0.1.1 through 5.0.1.3), the requirements are now consolidated into fewer, reorganized sections with illustrated figures directly embedded in the text. The core sign requirements remain the same — fluorescent yellow-green children-crossing symbol, maximum speed legend, km/h panel, and optional 'SCHOOL ZONE' or bilingual tab — but sign dimensions are now presented by reference to named figures (A through G) rather than as itemized lists. A new rule explicitly states sign dimensions cannot be proportionately increased. Municipalities and road authorities responsible for erecting or replacing school zone signs should review the updated section numbering and figure references to ensure compliance. The heading for the relevant community safety zone section was also corrected from 'Schools Signs' to 'School Signs'.

Two new Community Safety Zones added on Ontario highways in Dryden and McMurrich/Monteith

Two new community safety zones have been added to the provincial highway network. A stretch of Highway 601 in the City of Dryden — from its eastern junction with Highway 17 north to Ryczko Road — is now designated a community safety zone at all times, year-round. A section of Highway 518 in the Township of McMurrich/Monteith (Parry Sound District) — between points 20 metres east of West Bear Lake Road and 20 metres west of East Bear Lake Road — has also received the same around-the-clock designation. In community safety zones, fines for traffic violations (such as speeding) are doubled. Drivers regularly using these highway segments should be aware that increased penalties now apply at all times.

Municipalities can now opt out of the small-population rule for resort condominium property tax classification

A provision that had been revoked is replaced with a new rule allowing single-tier or upper-tier municipal councils to pass a by-law waiving the requirement that a resort condominium unit be located in a municipality with a population of 10,000 or less. To use this option, the municipality must have had land in the resort condominium tax class in the preceding taxation year. The by-law automatically applies for the year it is passed and any future years the resort condominium class remains active in that municipality. Upper-tier municipalities can only waive the population rule for a lower-tier municipality if that lower-tier municipality also had qualifying resort condominium land in the prior year. Resort property owners and managers in municipalities that previously could not qualify due to population size should check whether their council has passed or intends to pass such a by-law.

County of Oxford and Township of Norwich authorized to grant development-charge relief to VDK Development Inc.

The regulation has been expanded to allow the County of Oxford and the Township of Norwich to grant assistance to VDK Development Inc. in the form of full or partial exemptions from development charges imposed under the Development Charges Act, 1997. The assistance window is a six-month period starting in mid-2026. The County of Oxford's assistance is capped at $800,000, while the Township of Norwich's is capped at $400,000. This relief can be granted directly or indirectly to the company. Municipalities, developers, and parties involved in development charge planning in Oxford County and Norwich Township should be aware of this new authority and its time-limited nature.

2026 election rules replace 2018 special provisions for certain Ontario municipalities

The special election rules that applied to Toronto and certain regional municipalities during the 2018 election have been removed and replaced with new provisions governing the 2026 regular election. Any person who had already filed a nomination for head of council in a municipality listed under the relevant section of the Municipal Act, 2001, or for any council seat in the Regional Municipality of Niagara, is deemed to have automatically withdrawn that nomination when the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 received Royal Assent. The Minister now has authority to make regulations to manage the 2026 election for the affected municipalities, handle transitional matters arising from related Municipal Act changes, and address nominations filed before certain provisions came into force. Ministerial regulations under this section override conflicting legislation and can apply retroactively. Candidates who had filed nominations for affected offices and municipal election administrators in the named municipalities should review whether those nominations remain valid and plan accordingly.

Ontario's Education Act substantially amended: board governance, property oversight, liability shields, and structural changes

A large set of amendments to Ontario's Education Act reshapes how school boards are governed and overseen. The Minister and Lieutenant Governor in Council gain broader direct authority over key regulatory matters — including board estimates, school board controlled entities, dealings with property, and several regulation-making powers — replacing a prior model that required Ministerial approval subject to the Lieutenant Governor in Council. New liability protections bar most lawsuits against Crown officials and appointed supervisors acting under the Act, while making boards vicariously responsible for those individuals' conduct. School board size for district school boards is capped at 12 elected members (down from 22), the director of education of English-language district school boards becomes a non-voting member by office and must be re-titled chief executive officer, and a new chief education officer role is established for a future proclamation date. Several other changes take effect now or on a future proclamation: boards must get Ministerial approval before acquiring land or dismissing their director of education; the Languages of Instruction Commission's dispute-resolution role is being transferred to the Minister; Division C (board-set taxes) and Division F are repealed; and digital materials are confirmed to be included wherever the Act refers to educational materials such as textbooks. Boards and their officials should review how these changes affect governance processes, budget approvals, property transactions, and communications policies.

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 building code updated to reference revised April 21, 2026 Ontario Amendments document

Ontario's building code regulation now points to a revised version of the "Ontario Amendments to the National Building Code of Canada 2020" dated April 21, 2026, replacing the previous April 1, 2026 dated document. The National Building Code of Canada 2020 (First Printing) itself remains the base code. Anyone involved in new construction or building permit applications should confirm they are referencing the April 21, 2026 version of the Ontario Amendments document rather than the earlier one. The practical effect is that the amendment document adopted as part of Ontario's building code has been updated, and compliance work should be based on the current version.

'Tailgate' permit class renamed 'bring-your-own' across Ontario's special occasion permits regulation

The regulation has been updated to replace all references to 'tailgate' events and permits with 'bring-your-own' terminology. The four permit classes previously called 'sale tailgate' and 'no-sale tailgate' are now called 'sale bring-your-own' and 'no-sale bring-your-own' respectively. The definition of 'tailgate event' has been removed and replaced by the 'bring-your-own event' definition, which covers outdoor ground-level events held in connection with professional, semi-professional, or post-secondary sporting events — and now also includes events designated as cultural or community events by a municipal council. Permit applicants for bring-your-own events or other public events contingent on a municipal designation must now submit proof of that designation with their application. All existing rules about attendees bringing their own liquor, possession and consumption, and removal of liquor from premises continue to apply under the new permit names.

New law removes bus-parking obligation on Toronto's Block 18C and shields government from related lawsuits

A new Ontario statute eliminates the requirement under a City of Toronto by-law that bus parking be provided on Block 18C, a parcel of land in downtown Toronto near the former SkyDome. The law also bars virtually all legal claims—including damages, injunctions, and contractual remedies—against the Crown, municipalities, and their officials arising from this change or from anything done under the related 2002 Skydome Act (Bus Parking); judicial review and constitutional challenges remain available. The government gains authority to make regulations that can terminate, suspend, or amend any contract or agreement tied to Block 18C's development, generally without paying compensation. Anyone who held rights under existing contracts or the old by-law's bus-parking requirement should take note that those rights may be extinguished or altered by regulation. Parties considering legal action related to Block 18C bus-parking arrangements should be aware that most court, arbitration, and administrative proceedings on this topic are now blocked.

Ontario's municipal freedom of information law gets major overhaul: new privacy breach rules, staged-access plans, and whistleblower protection

Ontario has made sweeping changes to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act affecting how municipal institutions handle access requests and protect personal information. Institutions can now propose a staged access plan when a request is unusually large or burdensome, and requesters must respond within 30 business days or risk being deemed to have abandoned their request. Response deadlines are shifting from calendar days to business days, and the main response period is increasing from 30 to 45 business days, with a new second extension available in limited circumstances. Institutions will be required to conduct written privacy impact assessments before collecting personal information, implement reasonable safeguards to protect it, and report thefts, losses or unauthorized disclosures to the Privacy Commissioner and affected individuals when there is a real risk of significant harm. A new whistleblower provision allows anyone with reasonable grounds to report suspected contraventions confidentially to the Commissioner. The personal information bank concept and related index requirements are being repealed, and the Commissioner gains new powers to review an institution's information practices and order corrective action.

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.

Metrolinx must follow new notice and consultation steps before ordering access to municipal roads and rights of way

Metrolinx now has explicit procedural obligations before it can issue an order requiring access to, or alteration of, a municipal highway or right of way. Before issuing such an order, Metrolinx must make good-faith efforts to meet any technical requirements and give due consideration to a set of listed factors. It must give the provincial Ministry of Transportation at least 20 days' written notice (with a detailed summary of negotiation steps taken), and the affected municipality at least 15 days' notice. If a municipality fails to comply with an order, Metrolinx must notify the Ministry at least 15 days before filing the order in the Superior Court of Justice. Metrolinx may revise or cancel an order, but must give both the Ministry and the affected municipality at least 15 days' advance notice before doing so. Municipalities and Metrolinx project teams involved in transit construction affecting local roads and rights of way need to be aware of these new steps.

Ontario eases business permit-service-standard rules and cuts compliance reporting to twice a year

Two changes take effect together on a future date. First, the rule requiring separate service standards for 'normal' versus 'not normal' permit applications is replaced: ministries will now distinguish 'typical' from 'not typical' circumstances, and a service standard may expressly exclude from its time commitment any period spent waiting on external processes or on Crown duty-to-consult obligations with Indigenous communities. Second, the quarterly compliance-reporting requirement for ministries is reduced to semi-annual reporting — twice a year instead of four times — with reports due by the end of January and July each year. Businesses that track how quickly Ontario ministries commit to processing permit and licence applications should note that ministry timelines may now formally exclude delays caused by third-party processes or consultation requirements, which could affect how published service standards are interpreted.

Line Fences Act forms now listed under Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness on Ontario's forms website

The official forms used in line fence disputes — including fence-viewer awards, notices, and owner agreements — are now listed on the Ontario Central Forms Repository under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, rather than the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Anyone who needs to access these forms (for example, to initiate or respond to a fence-viewer process) should look under the updated ministry listing on the government's forms website. The forms themselves and their content have not changed. Landowners, municipalities, and local boards involved in boundary fence matters should update any bookmarks or internal references to where these forms are found.

Line Fences Act appeals division dissolved; notice address rule updated

The formal 'appeals division' covering all Ontario lands has been revoked — it no longer exists as a named body under the regulation. The rule about where to send notices to the referee has been updated: notices should now be addressed as directed on the website of the ministry of the responsible Minister, rather than the Ministry or Government of Ontario website generally. Property owners or neighbours involved in a line fence dispute who need to file a notice of appeal should check the current ministry website for the correct service address. The fee rules for initiating an appeal remain unchanged.

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.

Fence-viewer rules for unorganized territory updated: ministry name references removed, notice delivery simplified

This regulation, which governs how boundary fence disputes are resolved on land in territory without municipal organization, has been amended in several housekeeping ways. The definition of 'Minister' has been removed from the regulation text, and references to 'the Ministry of Municipal Affairs' have been replaced with the more generic 'the ministry of the Minister.' Requirements to send certified copies of awards and certificates to owners and occupants 'at their last known place of residence' have been dropped — the obligation to send copies remains, but the specific address qualifier is gone. The location description for prescribed forms on the government website has been simplified by removing the reference to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Landowners and fence-viewers operating under this regulation should be aware that notice and delivery obligations are slightly reworded, though the core dispute resolution process is unchanged.