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Bill 37, Fewer Floods, Safer Ontario Act, 2025

McMahon, Mary-Margaret

Current status:

First Reading Ordered for Second Reading

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Bill 37 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill enacts several measures related to the public awareness of flooding

issues.

The

Bill proclaims the fourth week in March in each year as Flooding Awareness

Week. It also requires the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to publish

information on a Government website about flooding issues.

Finally,

the Bill requires information on flooding issues to be sent to taxpayers along

with their municipal tax bill. The Minister is required to send that

information to households in territories without municipal organization.

Bill 37 2025

Act to proclaim Flooding Awareness Week and to promote public awareness of

flooding issues

Preamble

The

Government of Ontario does not currently provide sufficient flooding education

and prevention tools for its population. A comprehensive and far-reaching

educational campaign, including digital and physical resources, would help

educate Ontarians to prevent basement flooding.

Flooding

now costs Canadians more than any other climate issue. This puts their homes

and financial security at risk, with the average cost of a basement flood

totalling $43,000. Insurance claims from severe weather have more than

quadrupled over the past 15 years. The number of these incidents will continue

to increase as the climate becomes more unstable, leading to more natural

disasters.

Creating

a residential flood risk awareness program and declaring the fourth week in

March as Flooding Awareness Week will increase knowledge and understanding,

which will be especially relevant for those with basements in areas that are

likely to flood.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Flooding

Awareness Week

The

fourth week in March in each year is proclaimed as Flooding Awareness Week.

Flooding

awareness website

The

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing shall publish the following information

on a Government of Ontario website:

1. Information

on what Ontarians can do to prepare for the possibility of floods in their

area.

2. Information

on preventative measures that can be taken to help prevent or mitigate floods.

3. A

guide to publicly-available resources in regards to flooding risks in Ontario.

4. Answers

to frequently asked questions about flooding risks in Ontario.

Mailout

in territories without municipal organization

The

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing shall ensure that the information

described in

section 2 is mailed to every household in a territory without

municipal organization before the end of each year.

City

of Toronto Act, 2006

Section

308 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 is amended by

adding the following subsection:

Flood

information must be included

(2.1) The

city treasurer must send materials containing the information described in

section 2 of the Fewer Floods, Safer Ontario Act, 2025

along with any tax bill they send to taxpayers.

Municipal

Act, 2001

Section

343 of the Municipal Act, 2001 is amended by adding

the following subsection:

Flood

information must be included

(2.1) The

treasurer must send materials containing the information described in

section 2

of the Fewer Floods, Safer Ontario Act, 2025 along

with any tax bill they send to taxpayers.

Commencement

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this Act comes

into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

(2) Sections

2 to 5 come into force on the day that is three months after the day this Act

receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Fewer Floods, Safer

Ontario Act, 2025 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

May 29, 2025

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

May 29, 2025

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

May 29, 2025

Carried

Ordered for Second Reading