Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 — Bill 100 (44th Parliament, 1st Session)
Bill 100, 44-1
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Bill 100, Better Regional Governance Act, 2026
Flack, Hon. Rob Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Current status:
Royal Assent received. Statutes of Ontario 2026,
chapter 3
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Bill 100 Royal Assent (PDF)
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s
aid to Bill 100 and does not form part of the law.
Bill 100 has been enacted as
Chapter 3 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2026.
SCHEDULE 1
MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001
The
Schedule amends the Municipal Act, 2001 . Here are
some highlights:
1. Amendments
are made with respect to the timing of the requirement for regional
municipalities to review, for each of their lower-tier municipalities, the
number of members of their council that represent each lower-tier municipality.
See the amendments to subsection 218 (6) and new subsection 218 (6.1).
2. New
section 218.0.1 authorizes the Minister to make regulations governing the votes
of the members of councils of upper-tier municipalities. The regulations would
apply only after the 2026 regular election.
Section
218.1 is re-enacted to provide rules governing the appointment of the head of
council of certain municipalities, beginning after the regular election in
2026. Related regulation making authority is provided.
4. New
section 218.2 sets out the composition of the council of the County of Simcoe
beginning after the regular election in 2026. Related regulation making
authority is provided.
5. New
section 218.2.1 sets out the composition of the council of The Regional
Municipality of Niagara beginning after the regular election in 2026. Related
regulation making authority is provided.
6. New
section 218.2.2 authorizes the
Minister to make regulations prescribing the composition of council of the City
of Thorold, the City of Port Colborne and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for
the term of office beginning in 2026.
7. Sections
218.3 and 218.6 apply with respect to the term of office beginning in 2022 for
certain municipalities. The sections are repealed.
SCHEDULE 2
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1996
The
Municipal Elections Act, 1996 is amended to
re-enact
section 10.1 to deem nominations filed in the 2026 regular election to
have been withdrawn in respect of the office of head of council of a
municipality referred to in subsection 218.1 (2) of the Municipal
Act, 2001 as well as any other office on the council of The Regional
Municipality of Niagara. Regulation-making authority with respect to carrying
out the 2026 regular election in these municipalities, and the municipalities
referred to in subsection 218.2.2 (1), is provided. The
section applies only if
the Bill receives Royal Assent on or after May 1, 2026.
Bill 100 2026
Act to amend the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996
CONTENTS
Preamble
Contents
of this Act
Commencement
Short
title
Schedule 1
Municipal
Act, 2001
Schedule 2
Municipal
Elections Act, 1996
Preamble
The
Government of Ontario is committed to improving regional governance by:
Supporting
more efficient and effective regional councils.
Improving
alignment of provincial-municipal priorities.
Streamlining
and accelerating decision-making in local government
Therefore,
His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of
the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Contents
of this Act
1 This Act consists of
this section, sections 2 and 3 and the Schedules to this Act.
Commencement
(1) Except
as otherwise provided in this section, this Act comes into force on the day it
receives Royal Assent.
(2) The
Schedules to this Act come into force as provided in each Schedule.
(3) If
a
Schedule to this Act provides that any of its provisions are to come into
force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, an
order may apply to one or more of those provisions, and orders may be issued at
different times with respect to any of those provisions.
Short
title
3 The
short title of
this Act is the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 .
SCHEDULE
MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001
(1) Subsection 218 (6) of the Municipal Act,
2001 is amended by,
(
a) striking
out “2018” and substituting “2026”; and
(
b) striking
out “a regional municipality shall” and substituting “every regional
municipality, other than The Regional Municipality of Niagara, shall”.
(2) Section
218 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
Same,
The Regional Municipality of Niagara
(6.1) Following
the regular election in 2034 and following every second regular election after
that, The Regional Municipality of Niagara shall review, for each of its
lower-tier municipalities, the number of members of its council that represent
the lower-tier municipality.
(3) Subsection
218 (7) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection (6) and ends” and
substituting “subsection (6) or (6.1), as the case may be, and ends” in the
portion before clause (a).
(4) Subsection
218 (8) of the Act is amended by adding “or (6.1)” at the end.
(5) Subsection
218 (11) of the Act is repealed.
The Act is amended by adding the following section:
Number
of votes, upper-tier municipalities
218.0.1
(1) The
Minister may make regulations governing the votes of the members of council of
an upper-tier municipality, including,
(
a) prescribing
the number of votes given to each member, provided that each member has at
least one vote;
(
b) prescribing
rules for when the number of votes given to any member is more than one vote;
(
c) prescribing
matters or questions for which the number of votes given to any member is more
than one vote;
(
d) prescribing
periods of time for which the regulations made under this
section apply.
Limitation
(2) A
regulation made under subsection (1) shall not apply in respect of a term of
office before the regular election in
Section 218.1 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Head
of council, certain municipalities
218.1
(1) The head
of council of each of the municipalities set out in subsection (2) shall be
appointed in accordance with the following rules:
1. The
Minister may, by order, appoint a head of council following the regular
election in 2026 and every subsequent regular election.
2. At
the first meeting of a new council of a municipality following the regular
election in 2026 and every subsequent regular election, the head of the council
shall be appointed by the members of the council, unless the Minister has
appointed a head of council under paragraph 1.
3. The
Minister may, by order, remove a head of council appointed by the Minister or
by the council and, if the Minister does so, may, by order, appoint a new head
of council.
4. The
following rules apply if a vacancy in the head of council position occurs:
i. The
Minister may, by order, appoint a head of council to fill the vacancy.
ii. A
head of council shall be appointed by the members of council within 60 days
after the day a declaration of vacancy is made with respect to the vacancy
under
section 262, unless the Minister has appointed a head of council under
subparagraph i.
iii. For
clarity, if the Minister appoints a head of council under subparagraph i before
the council declares the head of council’s seat vacant under
section 262, the
council is not required to declare the head of council’s seat vacant under that
section.
Municipalities
(2) For
the purposes of subsection (1), the municipalities are as follows:
1. The
Regional Municipality of Durham.
2. The
Regional Municipality of Halton.
3. The
District Municipality of Muskoka.
4. The
Regional Municipality of Niagara.
5. The
Regional Municipality of Peel.
6. The
County of Simcoe.
7. The
Regional Municipality of Waterloo.
8. The
Regional Municipality of York.
Effect
of order
(3) An
order made by the Minister under subsection (1) takes effect on the date and at
the time specified in the order.
Notice
of order
(4) If
the Minister makes an order under subsection (1), the Minister shall,
(
a) publish
the order in The Ontario Gazette ; and
(
b) as
soon as possible after the order is made, provide a copy of the order to the
municipality to which it relates.
Deemed
to be member of council
(5) A
person appointed by the Minister or by members of council under subsection
(1) to be the head of council is deemed to also be a member of council.
Conduct
of 2026 regular election
(6) The
regular election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the method of selecting the
head of council described in this
section were already in effect.
Regulations
(7) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of this
section and,
without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make
regulations,
(
a) governing
the appointment of a head of council under subsection (1), including,
(
i) prescribing
rules to facilitate the transition of the head of council appointed under
subsection (1),
(ii) prescribing
powers and duties of the head of council appointed under subsection (1);
(
b) providing
for modifications to this Act, any other Act or the regulations made under any
Act.
Retroactivity
(8) A
regulation made under subsection (7) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflict
(9) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation made under subsection (7) and a
provision of this Act or of any other Act or regulation, the regulation made
under subsection (7) prevails.
Section 218.2 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Council
composition, County of Simcoe
218.2
(1) Beginning
with the term of office following the regular election in 2026, the council for
the County of Simcoe shall be composed of,
(
a) the
head of council appointed under
section 218.1; and
(
b) sixteen
other members, consisting of the head of council of each lower-tier
municipality in the County of Simcoe.
Power
to change council composition
(2) Nothing
in this
section limits the power of the County of Simcoe to change its council
composition under
section 218 for any regular election after 2026.
Conduct
of 2026 regular election
(3) The
regular election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the composition of the
council of the County of Simcoe, as described in subsection (1), were already
in effect.
Regulations
(4) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of this section, and
without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make
regulations,
(
a) governing
the composition of the council of the County of Simcoe for the purposes of this
section, including prescribing rules to facilitate the transition to the new
council composition;
(
b) providing
for modifications to this Act, the Municipal Elections
Act, 1996 or the regulations made under those Acts.
Retroactivity
(5) A
regulation made under subsection (4) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflicts
(6) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation under subsection (4) and a
provision of this Act or another Act or regulation, the regulation made under
subsection (4) prevails.
Council
composition, The Regional Municipality of Niagara
218.2.1
(1) Beginning
with the term of office following the regular election in 2026, the council for
The Regional Municipality of Niagara shall be composed of,
(
a) the
head of council appointed under
section 218.1; and
(
b) twelve
other members, consisting of the head of council of each lower-tier
municipality in The Regional Municipality of Niagara.
Power
to change council composition
(2) Nothing
in this
section limits the power of The Regional Municipality of Niagara to
change its council composition under
section 218 for any regular election after
Conduct
of 2026 regular election
(3) The
regular election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the composition of the
council of The Regional Municipality of Niagara, as described in subsection
(1), were already in effect.
Regulations
(4) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of this section, and
without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make
regulations,
(
a) governing
the composition of the council of The Regional Municipality of Niagara for the
purposes of this section, including prescribing rules to facilitate the
transition to the new council composition;
(
b) providing
for modifications to this Act, the Municipal Elections
Act, 1996 or the regulations made under those Acts.
Retroactivity
(5) A
regulation made under subsection (4) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflicts
(6) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation under subsection (4) and a
provision of this Act or another Act or regulation, the regulation made under
subsection (4) prevails.
Council
composition of certain lower-tier municipalities
218.2.2
(1) For the
term of office beginning in 2026, the Minister may make regulations prescribing
the composition of council of the City of Thorold, the City of Port Colborne
and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, including regulations,
(
a) specifying
the number of members of the council of the lower-tier municipality;
(
b) establishing,
altering or dissolving wards of the lower-tier municipality;
(
c) specifying
whether the members shall be elected by general vote or by wards or by any
combination of general vote and wards, except that the head of council shall be
elected by general vote;
(
d) specifying
that the regular election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the composition and
wards set out in the regulation were already in effect;
(
e) providing
for modifications to this Act, the Municipal Elections
Act, 1996 or the regulations made under those Acts that, in the opinion
of the Minister, are necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of
this section;
(
f) prescribing
rules to facilitate the transition to the new council composition.
Retroactivity
(2) A
regulation made under subsection (1) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflicts
(3) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation under subsection (1) and a
provision of this Act or another Act or regulation, the regulation made under
subsection (1) prevails.
Sections 218.3 and 218.4 of the Act are repealed.
(1) Clause 218.5 (1) (
b) of the Act is amended by striking out
“necessary” and substituting “necessary or desirable”.
(2) Section
218.5 of the Act, as amended by subsection (1), is repealed.
Section 218.6 of the Act is repealed.
(1) Subsection 221 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “217,
218, 218.1, 218.3 or 220” and substituting “217, 218, 218.1, 218.2, 218.2.1,
218.2.2, 218.3 or 220”.
(2) Subsection
221 (1) of the Act, as amended by subsection (1), is amended by striking out
“217, 218, 218.1, 218.2, 218.2.1, 218.2.2, 218.3 or 220” and substituting “217,
218, 218.1, 218.2, 218.2.1, 218.2.2 or 220”.
(3) Subsection
221 (2) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection 218 (7)” wherever it
appears and substituting in each case “subsection 218 (7) or 218.0.1 (1)”.
Subsection 259 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “or” at the end of
clause (g), adding “or” at the end of clause (
h) and by adding the following
clause:
(
i) is
removed from their office by the Minister under paragraph 3 of subsection 218.1
(1).
Subsection 284.12 (1) of the Act is amended by adding “of a municipality other
than a municipality set out in subsection 218.1 (2)” after “of the head of
council”.
Commencement
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this
Schedule
comes into force on the day the Better Regional Governance
Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
(2) Section
5, subsection 6 (2),
section 7, subsection 8 (2) and sections 9 and 10 come
into force on November 15, 2026.
SCHEDULE
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1996
Sections 10.1 and 10.2 of the Municipal Elections Act,
1996 are repealed.
(1) The Act is amended by adding the following section:
regular election, certain municipalities
Deemed
withdrawal of nominations
10.1
(1) A person
who, on or before the day the Better Regional Governance
Act, 2026 received Royal Assent, has filed a nomination in the 2026
regular election for any of the following is deemed to have withdrawn their
nomination under
section 36 of this Act on the day the Better
Regional Governance Act, 2026 received Royal Assent:
1. The
office of head of council of a municipality referred to in subsection 218.1
(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 .
2. Any
office on the council of The Regional Municipality of Niagara, other than the
office of head of council mentioned in paragraph 1.
Regulations
(2) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
advisable or necessary for the purposes of carrying out the 2026 regular
election for the municipalities referred to in subsection 218.1 (2) or 218.2.2
(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 and, without
restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make regulations,
(
a) varying
the operation of any of the provisions of this Act for those purposes;
(
b) governing
transitional matters that arise under this Act as a result of the
implementation of sections 218.1, 218.2 or 218.2.1 of the Municipal
Act, 2001 ;
(
c) governing
transitional matters that arise under this Act as a result of the implementation
section 218.2.2 of the Municipal Act, 2001 , including
transitional matters in respect of nominations that were filed in the 2026
regular election for any office on the council of a municipality referred to in
subsection 218.2.2 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001
on or before the day that subsection comes into force.
Same
(3) A
regulation made under subsection (2) may limit the circumstances in which an
order under subsection 83 (1) may be made in relation to the conduct of the
2026 regular election for the municipalities referred to in subsection 218.1
(2) or 218.2.2 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 .
Retroactivity
(4) A
regulation made under subsection (2) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflict
(5) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation made under subsection (2) and a
provision of this Act or of any other Act or regulation, the regulation made
under subsection (2) prevails.
(2) Subsection
(1) only applies if the Better Regional Governance Act,
2026 receives Royal Assent on or after May 1, 2026.
Commencement
This
Schedule comes into force on the day the Better
Regional Governance Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
Bill 100 As Amended by Standing Committee (PDF)
This
reprint of the Bill is marked to indicate the changes that were made in
Committee.
The
changes are indicated by underlines for
new text and a strikethrough for deleted text.
______________
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
SCHEDULE 1
MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001
The
Schedule amends the Municipal Act, 2001 . Here are
some highlights:
1. Amendments
are made with respect to the timing of the requirement for regional
municipalities to review, for each of their lower-tier municipalities, the
number of members of their council that represent each lower-tier municipality.
See the amendments to subsection 218 (6) and new subsection 218 (6.1).
2. New
section 218.0.1 authorizes the Minister to make regulations governing the votes
of the members of councils of upper-tier municipalities. The regulations would
apply only after the 2026 regular election.
Section
218.1 is re-enacted to provide rules governing the appointment of the head of
council of certain municipalities, beginning after the regular election in
2026. Related regulation making authority is provided.
4. New
section 218.2 sets out the composition of the council of the County of Simcoe
beginning after the regular election in 2026. Related regulation making
authority is provided.
5. New
section 218.2.1 sets out the composition of the council of The Regional
Municipality of Niagara beginning after the regular election in 2026. Related
regulation making authority is provided.
5.1 New
section 218.2.2 authorizes the Minister to make regulations prescribing the
composition of council of the City of Thorold, the City of Port Colborne and
the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for the term of office beginning in 2026.
6. Sections
218.3 and 218.6 apply with respect to the term of office beginning in 2022 for
certain municipalities. The sections are repealed.
SCHEDULE 2
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1996
The
Municipal Elections Act, 1996 is amended to
re-enact
section 10.1 to deem nominations filed in the 2026 regular election to
have been withdrawn in respect of the office of head of council of a
municipality referred to in subsection 218.1 (2) of the Municipal
Act, 2001 as well as any other office on the council of The Regional
Municipality of Niagara. Regulation-making authority with respect to carrying
out the 2026 regular election in these municipalities , and the municipalities referred to in subsection 218.2.2
(1), is provided. The
section applies only if the Bill receives
Royal Assent on or after May 1, 2026.
Bill 100 2026
Act to amend the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996
CONTENTS
Preamble
Contents
of this Act
Commencement
Short
title
Schedule 1
Municipal
Act, 2001
Schedule 2
Municipal
Elections Act, 1996
Preamble
The
Government of Ontario is committed to improving regional governance by:
Supporting
more efficient and effective regional councils.
Improving
alignment of provincial-municipal priorities.
Streamlining
and accelerating decision-making in local government
Therefore,
His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of
the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Contents
of this Act
1 This Act consists of
this section, sections 2 and 3 and the Schedules to this Act.
Commencement
(1) Except
as otherwise provided in this section, this Act comes into force on the day it
receives Royal Assent.
(2) The
Schedules to this Act come into force as provided in each Schedule.
(3) If
a
Schedule to this Act provides that any of its provisions are to come into
force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, an
order may apply to one or more of those provisions, and orders may be issued at
different times with respect to any of those provisions.
Short
title
3 The
short title of
this Act is the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 .
SCHEDULE
MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001
(1) Subsection 218 (6) of the Municipal Act,
2001 is amended by,
(
a) striking
out “2018” and substituting “2026”; and
(
b) striking
out “a regional municipality shall” and substituting “every regional
municipality, other than The Regional Municipality of Niagara, shall”.
(2) Section
218 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
Same,
The Regional Municipality of Niagara
(6.1) Following
the regular election in 2034 and following every second regular election after
that, The Regional Municipality of Niagara shall review, for each of its
lower-tier municipalities, the number of members of its council that represent
the lower-tier municipality.
(3) Subsection
218 (7) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection (6) and ends” and
substituting “subsection (6) or (6.1), as the case may be, and ends” in the
portion before clause (a).
(4) Subsection
218 (8) of the Act is amended by adding “or (6.1)” at the end.
(5) Subsection
218 (11) of the Act is repealed.
The Act is amended by adding the following section:
Number
of votes, upper-tier municipalities
218.0.1
(1) The
Minister may make regulations governing the votes of the members of council of
an upper-tier municipality, including,
(
a) prescribing
the number of votes given to each member, provided that each member has at
least one vote;
(
b) prescribing
rules for when the number of votes given to any member is more than one vote;
(
c) prescribing
matters or questions for which the number of votes given to any member is more
than one vote;
(
d) prescribing
periods of time for which the regulations made under this
section apply.
Limitation
(2) A
regulation made under subsection (1) shall not apply in respect of a term of
office before the regular election in
Section 218.1 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Head
of council, certain municipalities
218.1
(1) The head
of council of each of the municipalities set out in subsection (2) shall be
appointed in accordance with the following rules:
1. The
Minister may, by order, appoint a head of council following the regular
election in 2026 and every subsequent regular election.
2. At
the first meeting of a new council of a municipality following the regular
election in 2026 and every subsequent regular election, the head of the council
shall be appointed by the members of the council, unless the Minister has
appointed a head of council under paragraph 1.
3. The
Minister may, by order, remove a head of council appointed by the Minister or
by the council and, if the Minister does so, may, by order, appoint a new head
of council.
4. The
following rules apply if a vacancy in the head of council position occurs:
i. The
Minister may, by order, appoint a head of council to fill the vacancy.
ii. A
head of council shall be appointed by the members of council within 60 days
after the day a declaration of vacancy is made with respect to the vacancy
under
section 262, unless the Minister has appointed a head of council under
subparagraph i.
iii. For
clarity, if the Minister appoints a head of council under subparagraph i before
the council declares the head of council’s seat vacant under
section 262, the
council is not required to declare the head of council’s seat vacant under that
section.
Municipalities
(2) For
the purposes of subsection (1), the municipalities are as follows:
1. The
Regional Municipality of Durham.
2. The
Regional Municipality of Halton.
3. The
District Municipality of Muskoka.
4. The
Regional Municipality of Niagara.
5. The
Regional Municipality of Peel.
6. The
County of Simcoe.
7. The
Regional Municipality of Waterloo.
8. The
Regional Municipality of York.
Effect
of order
(3) An
order made by the Minister under subsection (1) takes effect on the date and at
the time specified in the order.
Notice
of order
(4) If
the Minister makes an order under subsection (1), the Minister shall,
(
a) publish
the order in The Ontario Gazette ; and
(
b) as
soon as possible after the order is made, provide a copy of the order to the
municipality to which it relates.
Deemed
to be member of council
(5) A
person appointed by the Minister or by members of council under subsection
(1) to be the head of council is deemed to also be a member of council.
Conduct
of 2026 regular election
(6) The
regular election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the method of selecting the
head of council described in this
section were already in effect.
Regulations
(7) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of this
section and,
without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make
regulations,
(
a) governing
the appointment of a head of council under subsection (1), including,
(
i) prescribing
rules to facilitate the transition of the head of council appointed under
subsection (1),
(ii) prescribing
powers and duties of the head of council appointed under subsection (1);
(
b) providing
for modifications to this Act, any other Act or the regulations made under any
Act.
Retroactivity
(8) A
regulation made under subsection (7) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflict
(9) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation made under subsection (7) and a
provision of this Act or of any other Act or regulation, the regulation made
under subsection (7) prevails.
Section 218.2 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Council
composition, County of Simcoe
218.2
(1) Beginning
with the term of office following the regular election in 2026, the council for
the County of Simcoe shall be composed of,
(
a) the
head of council appointed under
section 218.1; and
(
b) sixteen
other members, consisting of the head of council of each lower-tier
municipality in the County of Simcoe.
Power
to change council composition
(2) Nothing
in this
section limits the power of the County of Simcoe to change its council
composition under
section 218 for any regular election after 2026.
Conduct
of 2026 regular election
(3) The
regular election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the composition of the
council of the County of Simcoe, as described in subsection (1), were already
in effect.
Regulations
(4) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of this section, and
without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make
regulations,
(
a) governing
the composition of the council of the County of Simcoe for the purposes of this
section, including prescribing rules to facilitate the transition to the new
council composition;
(
b) providing
for modifications to this Act, the Municipal Elections
Act, 1996 or the regulations made under those Acts.
Retroactivity
(5) A
regulation made under subsection (4) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflicts
(6) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation under subsection (4) and a
provision of this Act or another Act or regulation, the regulation made under
subsection (4) prevails.
Council
composition, The Regional Municipality of Niagara
218.2.1
(1) Beginning
with the term of office following the regular election in 2026, the council for
The Regional Municipality of Niagara shall be composed of,
(
a) the
head of council appointed under
section 218.1; and
(
b) twelve
other members, consisting of the head of council of each lower-tier
municipality in The Regional Municipality of Niagara.
Power
to change council composition
(2) Nothing
in this
section limits the power of The Regional Municipality of Niagara to
change its council composition under
section 218 for any regular election after
Conduct
of 2026 regular election
(3) The
regular election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the composition of the
council of The Regional Municipality of Niagara, as described in subsection
(1), were already in effect.
Regulations
(4) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of this section, and
without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make
regulations,
(
a) governing
the composition of the council of The Regional Municipality of Niagara for the
purposes of this section, including prescribing rules to facilitate the
transition to the new council composition;
(
b) providing
for modifications to this Act, the Municipal Elections
Act, 1996 or the regulations made under those Acts.
Retroactivity
(5) A
regulation made under subsection (4) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflicts
(6) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation under subsection (4) and a
provision of this Act or another Act or regulation, the regulation made under
subsection (4) prevails.
Council composition of certain
lower-tier municipalities
218.2.2
(1) For the term of office beginning in 2026, the
Minister may make regulations prescribing the composition of council of the
City of Thorold, the City of Port Colborne and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake,
including regulations,
(
a) specifying the number of members
of the council of the lower-tier municipality;
(
b) establishing, altering or
dissolving wards of the lower-tier municipality;
(
c) specifying whether the members
shall be elected by general vote or by wards or by any combination of general
vote and wards, except that the head of council shall be elected by general
vote;
(
d) specifying that the regular
election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the composition and wards set out in
the regulation were already in effect;
(
e) providing for modifications to
this Act, the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 or the
regulations made under those Acts that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of this section;
(
f) prescribing rules to facilitate
the transition to the new council composition.
Retroactivity
(2) A regulation made under
subsection (1) is, if it so provides, effective with reference to a period
before it was filed.
Conflicts
(3) In the event of a
conflict between a regulation under subsection (1) and a provision of this Act
or another Act or regulation, the regulation made under subsection (1)
prevails.
Sections 218.3 and 218.4 of the Act are repealed.
(1) Clause 218.5 (1) (
b) of the Act is amended by striking out
“necessary” and substituting “necessary or desirable”.
(2) Section
218.5 of the Act, as amended by subsection (1), is repealed.
Section 218.6 of the Act is repealed.
8 (1) Subsection 221 (1) of
the Act is amended by striking out “217, 218, 218.1, 218.3 or 220” and
substituting “217, 218, 218.1, 218.2, 218.2.1, 218.3 or 220”.
8 (1) Subsection 221 (1) of
the Act is amended by striking out “217, 218, 218.1, 218.3 or 220” and
substituting “217, 218, 218.1, 218.2, 218.2.1, 218.2.2, 218.3 or 220”.
(2) Subsection 221 (1) of the
Act, as amended by subsection (1), is amended by striking out “217, 218, 218.1,
218.2, 218.2.1, 218.3 or 220” and substituting “217, 218, 218.1, 218.2, 218.2.1
or 220”.
(2) Subsection 221 (1) of the
Act, as amended by subsection (1), is amended by striking out “217, 218, 218.1,
218.2, 218.2.1, 218.2.2, 218.3 or 220” and substituting “217, 218, 218.1,
218.2, 218.2.1, 218.2.2 or 220”.
(3) Subsection
221 (2) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection 218 (7)” wherever it
appears and substituting in each case “subsection 218 (7) or 218.0.1 (1)”.
Subsection 259 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “or” at the end of
clause (g), adding “or” at the end of clause (
h) and by adding the following
clause:
(
i) is
removed from their office by the Minister under paragraph 3 of subsection 218.1
(1).
Subsection 284.12 (1) of the Act is amended by adding “of a municipality other
than a municipality set out in subsection 218.1 (2)” after “of the head of
council”.
Commencement
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this
Schedule
comes into force on the day the Better Regional Governance
Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
(2) Section
5, subsection 6 (2),
section 7, subsection 8 (2) and sections 9 and 10 come
into force on November 15, 2026.
SCHEDULE
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1996
Sections 10.1 and 10.2 of the Municipal Elections Act,
1996 are repealed.
(1) The Act is amended by adding the following section:
regular election, certain municipalities
Deemed
withdrawal of nominations
10.1
(1) A person
who, on or before the day the Better Regional Governance
Act, 2026 received Royal Assent, has filed a nomination in the 2026
regular election for any of the following is deemed to have withdrawn their
nomination under
section 36 of this Act on the day the Better
Regional Governance Act, 2026 received Royal Assent:
1. The
office of head of council of a municipality referred to in subsection 218.1
(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 .
2. Any
office on the council of The Regional Municipality of Niagara, other than the
office of head of council mentioned in paragraph 1.
Regulations
(2) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
advisable or necessary for the purposes of carrying out the 2026 regular
election for the municipalities referred to in subsection 218.1 (2) or 218.2.2 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 and, without restricting the
generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make regulations,
(
a) varying
the operation of any of the provisions of this Act for those purposes;
(
b) governing
transitional matters that arise under this Act as a result of the
implementation of sections 218.1, 218.2 or 218.2.1 of the Municipal
Act, 2001 ;
(
c) governing transitional matters
that arise under this Act as a result of the implementation of
section 218.2.2
of the Municipal Act, 2001 , including transitional matters in respect of nominations
that were filed in the 2026 regular election for any office on the council of a
municipality referred to in subsection 218.2.2 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 on or before the day that subsection comes into force.
Same
(3) A
regulation made under subsection (2) may limit the circumstances in which an
order under subsection 83 (1) may be made in relation to the conduct of the
2026 regular election for the municipalities referred to in subsection 218.1
(2) or 218.2.2 (1) of
the Municipal Act, 2001 .
Retroactivity
(4) A
regulation made under subsection (2) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflict
(5) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation made under subsection (2) and a
provision of this Act or of any other Act or regulation, the regulation made
under subsection (2) prevails.
(2) Subsection
(1) only applies if the Better Regional Governance Act,
2026 receives Royal Assent on or after May 1, 2026.
Commencement
This
Schedule comes into force on the day the Better
Regional Governance Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
Bill 100 Original (PDF)
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
SCHEDULE 1
MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001
The
Schedule amends the Municipal Act, 2001 . Here are
some highlights:
1. Amendments
are made with respect to the timing of the requirement for regional
municipalities to review, for each of their lower-tier municipalities, the
number of members of their council that represent each lower-tier municipality.
See the amendments to subsection 218 (6) and new subsection 218 (6.1).
2. New
section 218.0.1 authorizes the Minister to make regulations governing the votes
of the members of councils of upper-tier municipalities. The regulations would
apply only after the 2026 regular election.
Section
218.1 is re-enacted to provide rules governing the appointment of the head of
council of certain municipalities, beginning after the regular election in
2026. Related regulation making authority is provided.
4. New
section 218.2 sets out the composition of the council of the County of Simcoe
beginning after the regular election in 2026. Related regulation making
authority is provided.
5. New
section 218.2.1 sets out the composition of the council of The Regional
Municipality of Niagara beginning after the regular election in 2026. Related
regulation making authority is provided.
6. Sections
218.3 and 218.6 apply with respect to the term of office beginning in 2022 for
certain municipalities. The sections are repealed.
SCHEDULE 2
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1996
The
Municipal Elections Act, 1996 is amended to
re-enact
section 10.1 to deem nominations filed in the 2026 regular election to
have been withdrawn in respect of the office of head of council of a
municipality referred to in subsection 218.1 (2) of the Municipal
Act, 2001 as well as any other office on the council of The Regional
Municipality of Niagara. Regulation-making authority with respect to carrying
out the 2026 regular election in these municipalities is provided. The
section
applies only if the Bill receives Royal Assent on or after May 1, 2026.
Bill 100 2026
Act to amend the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996
CONTENTS
Preamble
Contents
of this Act
Commencement
Short
title
Schedule 1
Municipal
Act, 2001
Schedule 2
Municipal
Elections Act, 1996
Preamble
The
Government of Ontario is committed to improving regional governance by:
Supporting
more efficient and effective regional councils.
Improving
alignment of provincial-municipal priorities.
Streamlining
and accelerating decision-making in local government
Therefore,
His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of
the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Contents
of this Act
1 This Act consists of
this section, sections 2 and 3 and the Schedules to this Act.
Commencement
(1) Except
as otherwise provided in this section, this Act comes into force on the day it
receives Royal Assent.
(2) The
Schedules to this Act come into force as provided in each Schedule.
(3) If
a
Schedule to this Act provides that any of its provisions are to come into
force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, an
order may apply to one or more of those provisions, and orders may be issued at
different times with respect to any of those provisions.
Short
title
3 The
short title of
this Act is the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 .
SCHEDULE
MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001
(1) Subsection 218 (6) of the Municipal Act,
2001 is amended by,
(
a) striking
out “2018” and substituting “2026”; and
(
b) striking
out “a regional municipality shall” and substituting “every regional
municipality, other than The Regional Municipality of Niagara, shall”.
(2) Section
218 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:
Same,
The Regional Municipality of Niagara
(6.1) Following
the regular election in 2034 and following every second regular election after
that, The Regional Municipality of Niagara shall review, for each of its
lower-tier municipalities, the number of members of its council that represent
the lower-tier municipality.
(3) Subsection
218 (7) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection (6) and ends” and
substituting “subsection (6) or (6.1), as the case may be, and ends” in the
portion before clause (a).
(4) Subsection
218 (8) of the Act is amended by adding “or (6.1)” at the end.
(5) Subsection
218 (11) of the Act is repealed.
The Act is amended by adding the following section:
Number
of votes, upper-tier municipalities
218.0.1
(1) The
Minister may make regulations governing the votes of the members of council of
an upper-tier municipality, including,
(
a) prescribing
the number of votes given to each member, provided that each member has at
least one vote;
(
b) prescribing
rules for when the number of votes given to any member is more than one vote;
(
c) prescribing
matters or questions for which the number of votes given to any member is more
than one vote;
(
d) prescribing
periods of time for which the regulations made under this
section apply.
Limitation
(2) A
regulation made under subsection (1) shall not apply in respect of a term of
office before the regular election in
Section 218.1 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Head
of council, certain municipalities
218.1
(1) The head
of council of each of the municipalities set out in subsection (2) shall be
appointed in accordance with the following rules:
1. The
Minister may, by order, appoint a head of council following the regular
election in 2026 and every subsequent regular election.
2. At
the first meeting of a new council of a municipality following the regular
election in 2026 and every subsequent regular election, the head of the council
shall be appointed by the members of the council, unless the Minister has
appointed a head of council under paragraph 1.
3. The
Minister may, by order, remove a head of council appointed by the Minister or
by the council and, if the Minister does so, may, by order, appoint a new head
of council.
4. The
following rules apply if a vacancy in the head of council position occurs:
i. The
Minister may, by order, appoint a head of council to fill the vacancy.
ii. A
head of council shall be appointed by the members of council within 60 days
after the day a declaration of vacancy is made with respect to the vacancy
under
section 262, unless the Minister has appointed a head of council under
subparagraph i.
iii. For
clarity, if the Minister appoints a head of council under subparagraph i before
the council declares the head of council’s seat vacant under
section 262, the
council is not required to declare the head of council’s seat vacant under that
section.
Municipalities
(2) For
the purposes of subsection (1), the municipalities are as follows:
1. The
Regional Municipality of Durham.
2. The
Regional Municipality of Halton.
3. The
District Municipality of Muskoka.
4. The
Regional Municipality of Niagara.
5. The
Regional Municipality of Peel.
6. The
County of Simcoe.
7. The
Regional Municipality of Waterloo.
8. The
Regional Municipality of York.
Effect
of order
(3) An
order made by the Minister under subsection (1) takes effect on the date and at
the time specified in the order.
Notice
of order
(4) If
the Minister makes an order under subsection (1), the Minister shall,
(
a) publish
the order in The Ontario Gazette ; and
(
b) as
soon as possible after the order is made, provide a copy of the order to the
municipality to which it relates.
Deemed
to be member of council
(5) A
person appointed by the Minister or by members of council under subsection
(1) to be the head of council is deemed to also be a member of council.
Conduct
of 2026 regular election
(6) The
regular election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the method of selecting the
head of council described in this
section were already in effect.
Regulations
(7) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of this
section and,
without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make
regulations,
(
a) governing
the appointment of a head of council under subsection (1), including,
(
i) prescribing
rules to facilitate the transition of the head of council appointed under
subsection (1),
(ii) prescribing
powers and duties of the head of council appointed under subsection (1);
(
b) providing
for modifications to this Act, any other Act or the regulations made under any
Act.
Retroactivity
(8) A
regulation made under subsection (7) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflict
(9) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation made under subsection (7) and a
provision of this Act or of any other Act or regulation, the regulation made
under subsection (7) prevails.
Section 218.2 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Council
composition, County of Simcoe
218.2
(1) Beginning
with the term of office following the regular election in 2026, the council for
the County of Simcoe shall be composed of,
(
a) the
head of council appointed under
section 218.1; and
(
b) sixteen
other members, consisting of the head of council of each lower-tier
municipality in the County of Simcoe.
Power
to change council composition
(2) Nothing
in this
section limits the power of the County of Simcoe to change its council
composition under
section 218 for any regular election after 2026.
Conduct
of 2026 regular election
(3) The
regular election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the composition of the
council of the County of Simcoe, as described in subsection (1), were already
in effect.
Regulations
(4) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of this section, and
without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make
regulations,
(
a) governing
the composition of the council of the County of Simcoe for the purposes of this
section, including prescribing rules to facilitate the transition to the new
council composition;
(
b) providing
for modifications to this Act, the Municipal Elections
Act, 1996 or the regulations made under those Acts.
Retroactivity
(5) A
regulation made under subsection (4) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflicts
(6) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation under subsection (4) and a
provision of this Act or another Act or regulation, the regulation made under
subsection (4) prevails.
Council
composition, The Regional Municipality of Niagara
218.2.1
(1) Beginning
with the term of office following the regular election in 2026, the council for
The Regional Municipality of Niagara shall be composed of,
(
a) the
head of council appointed under
section 218.1; and
(
b) twelve
other members, consisting of the head of council of each lower-tier
municipality in The Regional Municipality of Niagara.
Power
to change council composition
(2) Nothing
in this
section limits the power of The Regional Municipality of Niagara to
change its council composition under
section 218 for any regular election after
Conduct
of 2026 regular election
(3) The
regular election in 2026 shall be conducted as if the composition of the
council of The Regional Municipality of Niagara, as described in subsection
(1), were already in effect.
Regulations
(4) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
necessary or desirable for implementing the purposes of this section, and
without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make
regulations,
(
a) governing
the composition of the council of The Regional Municipality of Niagara for the
purposes of this section, including prescribing rules to facilitate the
transition to the new council composition;
(
b) providing
for modifications to this Act, the Municipal Elections
Act, 1996 or the regulations made under those Acts.
Retroactivity
(5) A
regulation made under subsection (4) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflicts
(6) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation under subsection (4) and a
provision of this Act or another Act or regulation, the regulation made under
subsection (4) prevails.
Sections 218.3 and 218.4 of the Act are repealed.
(1) Clause 218.5 (1) (
b) of the Act is amended by striking out
“necessary” and substituting “necessary or desirable”.
(2) Section
218.5 of the Act, as amended by subsection (1), is repealed.
Section 218.6 of the Act is repealed.
(1) Subsection 221 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “217,
218, 218.1, 218.3 or 220” and substituting “217, 218, 218.1, 218.2, 218.2.1,
218.3 or 220”.
(2) Subsection
221 (1) of the Act, as amended by subsection (1), is amended by striking out
“217, 218, 218.1, 218.2, 218.2.1, 218.3 or 220” and substituting “217, 218,
218.1, 218.2, 218.2.1 or 220”.
(3) Subsection
221 (2) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection 218 (7)” wherever it
appears and substituting in each case “subsection 218 (7) or 218.0.1 (1)”.
Subsection 259 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “or” at the end of
clause (g), adding “or” at the end of clause (
h) and by adding the following
clause:
(
i) is
removed from their office by the Minister under paragraph 3 of subsection 218.1
(1).
Subsection 284.12 (1) of the Act is amended by adding “of a municipality other
than a municipality set out in subsection 218.1 (2)” after “of the head of
council”.
Commencement
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this
Schedule
comes into force on the day the Better Regional Governance
Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
(2) Section
5, subsection 6 (2),
section 7, subsection 8 (2) and sections 9 and 10 come
into force on November 15, 2026.
SCHEDULE
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1996
Sections 10.1 and 10.2 of the Municipal Elections Act,
1996 are repealed.
(1) The Act is amended by adding the following section:
regular election, certain municipalities
Deemed
withdrawal of nominations
10.1
(1) A person
who, on or before the day the Better Regional Governance
Act, 2026 received Royal Assent, has filed a nomination in the 2026
regular election for any of the following is deemed to have withdrawn their
nomination under
section 36 of this Act on the day the Better
Regional Governance Act, 2026 received Royal Assent:
1. The
office of head of council of a municipality referred to in subsection 218.1
(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 .
2. Any
office on the council of The Regional Municipality of Niagara, other than the
office of head of council mentioned in paragraph 1.
Regulations
(2) The
Minister may make regulations that, in the opinion of the Minister, are
advisable or necessary for the purposes of carrying out the 2026 regular
election for the municipalities referred to in subsection 218.1 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 and, without restricting the
generality of the foregoing, the Minister may make regulations,
(
a) varying
the operation of any of the provisions of this Act for those purposes;
(
b) governing
transitional matters that arise under this Act as a result of the
implementation of sections 218.1, 218.2 or 218.2.1 of the Municipal
Act, 2001 .
Same
(3) A
regulation made under subsection (2) may limit the circumstances in which an
order under subsection 83 (1) may be made in relation to the conduct of the
2026 regular election for the municipalities referred to in subsection 218.1
(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 .
Retroactivity
(4) A
regulation made under subsection (2) is, if it so provides, effective with
reference to a period before it was filed.
Conflict
(5) In
the event of a conflict between a regulation made under subsection (2) and a
provision of this Act or of any other Act or regulation, the regulation made
under subsection (2) prevails.
(2) Subsection
(1) only applies if the Better Regional Governance Act,
2026 receives Royal Assent on or after May 1, 2026.
Commencement
This
Schedule comes into force on the day the Better
Regional Governance Act, 2026 receives Royal Assent.
Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee
May 7, 2026
Royal Assent
Royal Assent received
May 7, 2026
Third Reading
Vote
Carried on division
May 7, 2026
Third Reading
Question put
May 7, 2026
Third Reading
Closure
Carried on division
May 6, 2026
Third Reading
Moved closure
Vote deferred
May 6, 2026
Third Reading
Debated
May 6, 2026
Third Reading
Debated
Debate adjourned
May 5, 2026
Third Reading
Debated
Debate adjourned
May 4, 2026
Second Reading
Ordered for Third Reading
May 4, 2026
Second Reading
Reported as amended
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy
April 30, 2026
Second Reading
Consideration of a Bill
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy
April 28, 2026
Second Reading
Consideration of a Bill
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy
April 23, 2026
Second Reading
Ordered referred to Standing Committee
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy
April 23, 2026
Second Reading
Vote
Carried on division
April 23, 2026
Second Reading
Question put
April 23, 2026
Second Reading
Closure
Carried on division
April 22, 2026
Second Reading
Moved closure
Vote deferred
April 22, 2026
Second Reading
Debated
April 21, 2026
Second Reading
Debated
Debate adjourned
April 20, 2026
Second Reading
Debated
Debate adjourned
April 16, 2026
Second Reading
Debated
Debate adjourned
April 2, 2026
First Reading
Ordered for Second Reading
April 2, 2026
First Reading
Vote
Carried
First Reading
April 2, 2026
Carried
Ordered for Second Reading
Second Reading
April 16, 2026
Principal Debaters
Fife, Catherine
Waterloo
Gallagher Murphy, Dawn
Newmarket—Aurora
Gates, Wayne
Niagara Falls
Glover, Chris
Spadina—Fort York
McMahon, Mary-Margaret
Beaches—East York
Oosterhoff, Hon. Sam
Niagara West
Saunderson, Brian
Simcoe—Grey
Shamji, Adil
Don Valley East
Smith, Hon. Graydon
Parry Sound—Muskoka
Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)
St. Catharines
Tsao, Jonathan
Don Valley North
Questions and Responses
Bell, Jessica
University—Rosedale
Bowman, Stephanie
Don Valley West
Darouze, George
Carleton
Dowie, Andrew
Windsor—Tecumseh
Gilmour, Alexa
Parkdale—High Park
Hamid, Hon. Zee
Milton
Leardi, Anthony
Essex
McKenney, Catherine
Ottawa Centre
Rae, Matthew
Perth—Wellington
Rakocevic, Tom
Humber River—Black Creek
Sattler, Peggy
London West
Smith, Laura
Thornhill
Tabuns, Peter
Toronto—Danforth
West, Jamie
Sudbury
Wong-Tam, Kristyn
Toronto Centre
April 20, 2026
Principal Debaters
Cerjanec, Rob
Ajax
Kerzner, Hon. Michael
York Centre
McKenney, Catherine
Ottawa Centre
Questions and Responses
Allsopp, Tyler
Bay of Quinte
Blais, Stephen
Orléans
Clancy, Aislinn
Kitchener Centre
Gates, Wayne
Niagara Falls
Leardi, Anthony
Essex
Pasma, Chandra
Ottawa West—Nepean
Rae, Matthew
Perth—Wellington
Smyth, Stephanie
Toronto—St. Paul's
West, Jamie
Sudbury
April 21, 2026
Principal Debaters
Anand, Deepak
Mississauga—Malton
Blais, Stephen
Orléans
Flack, Hon. Rob
Elgin—Middlesex—London
French, Jennifer
Oshawa
Hsu, Ted
Kingston and the Islands
McCarthy, Hon. Todd
Durham
Rakocevic, Tom
Humber River—Black Creek
Questions and Responses
Armstrong, Teresa
London—Fanshawe
Bourgouin, Guy
Mushkegowuk—James Bay
Cho, Hon. Stan
Willowdale
Clancy, Aislinn
Kitchener Centre
Coe, Lorne
Whitby
Gélinas, France
Nickel Belt
Leardi, Anthony
Essex
McCrimmon, Karen
Kanata—Carleton
Oosterhoff, Hon. Sam
Niagara West
Pasma, Chandra
Ottawa West—Nepean
Smith, Laura
Thornhill
April 22, 2026
Principal Debaters
Bell, Jessica
University—Rosedale
Dowie, Andrew
Windsor—Tecumseh
Pasma, Chandra
Ottawa West—Nepean
Rae, Matthew
Perth—Wellington
Questions and Responses
Blais, Stephen
Orléans
Kernaghan, Terence
London North Centre
Leardi, Anthony
Essex
Pang, Billy
Markham—Unionville
Rakocevic, Tom
Humber River—Black Creek
Smith, Laura
Thornhill
Wong-Tam, Kristyn
Toronto Centre
Moved closure
April 23, 2026
Closure carried on division
Question put
Carried on division
Ordered referred to Standing Committee
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy
April 28, 2026
Consideration of a Bill
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy
April 30, 2026
Consideration of a Bill
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy
May 4, 2026
Reported as amended
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy
Ordered for Third Reading
Third Reading
May 5, 2026
Principal Debaters
Coe, Lorne
Whitby
Flack, Hon. Rob
Elgin—Middlesex—London
Gates, Wayne
Niagara Falls
McCarthy, Hon. Todd
Durham
McKenney, Catherine
Ottawa Centre
Questions and Responses
Bowman, Stephanie
Don Valley West
Dowie, Andrew
Windsor—Tecumseh
Downey, Hon. Doug
Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte
Fife, Catherine
Waterloo
Sattler, Peggy
London West
Shamji, Adil
Don Valley East
May 6, 2026
Principal Debaters
Armstrong, Teresa
London—Fanshawe
Blais, Stephen
Orléans
Bourgouin, Guy
Mushkegowuk—James Bay
Clark, Steve
Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
Hsu, Ted
Kingston and the Islands
Smith, Laura
Thornhill
Watt, Tyler
Nepean
Questions and Responses
Coe, Lorne
Whitby
Collard, Lucille
Ottawa—Vanier
Dowie, Andrew
Windsor—Tecumseh
Gilmour, Alexa
Parkdale—High Park
Glover, Chris
Spadina—Fort York
Mamakwa, Sol
Kiiwetinoong
Oosterhoff, Hon. Sam
Niagara West
Racinsky, Joseph
Wellington—Halton Hills
Rae, Matthew
Perth—Wellington
Smith, Hon. Graydon
Parry Sound—Muskoka
Vanthof, John
Timiskaming—Cochrane
West, Jamie
Sudbury
May 6, 2026
Debated
Moved closure
May 7, 2026
Closure carried on division
Carried on division
Royal Assent
May 7, 2026
Royal Assent received