Canada-Ontario Development Charges Reduction Program: What Municipalities and Developers Need to Know
The federal and Ontario governments have unveiled the Canada-Ontario Development Charges Reduction Program (“DCRP”), a major $8.8 billion initiative that aims to boost housing construction and improve housing affordability across Ontario.
At its core, the program is designed to lower development charges which form a . . .
Bill 119 Proposes Changes to the Planning Act
Last week, we wrote about the announcement of proposed changes to the Planning Act to allow zoning infractions to be enforced through a municipal Administrative Monetary Penalty System (“AMPS”).
See: Province Proposing AMPS Penalties for Zoning Infractions
This amendment has now been set out in Schedule 7 of Bill 119, the . . .
Province Proposing AMPS Penalties for Zoning Infractions
On May 20, 2026 the provincial government announced that it would be introducing amendments to the Planning Act which will allow municipalities to encourage compliance with zoning by-laws through an Administrative Monetary Penalty System (“AMPS”).
This will be aimed at preventing illegal land uses, especially illegal . . .
Municipalities may Apply to the Court to Close a Private Residence for Public Nuisance
In the 2025 case of St Catharines v. Al-Kadhee, the City brought an application for a closing order in respect of a private residence pursuant to s. 447.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001. The Court confirmed that the legislation does not just apply to commercial properties and issued a closing order for 12 months.
The residence was . . .
Bill 97 and the Future of Privacy in Ontario
Schedule 11 of Bill 97 proposes significant changes to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Following second reading, the Bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.
The Bill signals a fundamental shift in how Ontario municipalities will be expected to manage personal . . .
Bill 98: Changes to Planning Policies and Municipal Authority
Bill 98, the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026, is currently at Second Reading, has been debated and ordered referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy.
The Acts it proposes to amend are: the Building Code Act, 1992; City of Toronto Act, 2006; Metrolinx Act, 2006; . . .
Ontario Proposes Significant Changes to Regional Governance
The Ontario government will be proposing the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, which would implement substantial changes to governance structures in several upper-tier municipalities across the province.
If passed, the legislation would introduce provincially appointed regional chairs with strong executive powers; reduce the size of . . .
