Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 — Bill 56 (44th Parliament, 1st Session)

Bill 56, 44-1

Ontario — Bills

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Bill 56, Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025

Khanjin, Hon. Andrea Minister of Red Tape Reduction

Current status:

Royal Assent received. Statutes of Ontario 2025,

chapter 11

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EXPLANATORY

NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s

aid to Bill 56 and does not form part of the law.

Bill 56 has been enacted as

Chapter 11 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2025.

SCHEDULE 1

CLEAN WATER ACT, 2006

The

Schedule makes multiple amendments to the Clean Water Act,

2006 . Some of the more significant amendments are described below.

Section

22 of the Act is amended by adding subsection (8.1), which provides that,

subject to regulations made by the Minister, where an activity engaged in at a

particular location is identified in an assessment report as a significant

drinking water threat, a source protection plan shall not, for the purposes of

satisfying paragraph 2 of subsection 22 (2), include any policy in respect of a

decision described in subsection 42.1 (1) except one of the policies set out in

a paragraph to this new subsection. Such a policy must be set out in the

wording prescribed by the Minister. The Minister may by regulation require a

source protection authority to review a source protection plan within the

prescribed period to ensure compliance with these new requirements.

Section

30 of the Act is amended to provide that as soon as reasonably possible after

an amendment to a source protection plan is deemed to be approved by the

Minister in accordance with subsection 34 (6) or (7), the Minister shall

publish notice of the approval on the environmental registry.

Section 34 of the Act is amended by adding

subsections (6) and (7), which provide that if the Minister does not exercise

an option set out in subsection 29 (1) or (2), as the case may be, within 120

days after the source protection authority submits proposed amendments under

subsection 34 (4), or within the prescribed period, the proposed amendments are

deemed to be approved. The new subsection 34 (8) provides that in prescribed

circumstances, and according to any prescribed process, the source protection authority

shall decide whether to approve proposed amendments.

The

new

section 42.1 provides that, subject to regulations made by the Minister, a

person or body that makes a decision to issue, otherwise create or amend a

prescribed instrument shall ensure that if the source protection plan includes

a policy set out in the new subsection 22 (8.1), the decision conforms to or is

designed to achieve the objective of the policy, as the case may be.

SCHEDULE 2

CROWN FOREST SUSTAINABILITY ACT, 1994

Currently,

the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994 requires a

forest management plan to be prepared for every management unit. The Act is

amended to provide that a forest management plan may apply to more than one

forest management unit.

Section

44 of the Act, which requires a holder of a forest resource licence to obtain

the Minister’s approval each year before beginning to harvest, is repealed.

The

power of the Minister to order permittees to stop removal activities is amended

to also apply to holders of forest resource licences, and the power to issue

certain administrative penalties in respect of forest resource licences is

amended to also apply in respect of permits.

The

power of the Lieutenant Governor in Council to make regulations approving and

amending manuals is repealed, and the same power is granted to the Minister.

SCHEDULE 3

DRUG AND PHARMACIES REGULATION ACT

The

Schedule amends the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act .

The

definitions that refer to members of the Ontario College of Pharmacists are

amended to include additional prescribed persons. The Act is also amended to

allow certain actions in that Act to be made by or in respect of prescribed

persons. A related regulation-making provision is added and other minor

amendments are made.

SCHEDULE 4

HEALING ARTS RADIATION PROTECTION ACT

The

Schedule amends the Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act .

Subsection 6 (1) is amended to remove references to persons prescribed by the

regulations in clauses (

a) and (

g) and to add a more general power to prescribe

persons in a new clause (h).

SCHEDULE 5

HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT

The

Schedule amends the Highway Traffic Act .

new

section is added providing that the Minister may direct a municipality to

install signs in school zones on highways under its jurisdiction, and that if

the municipality does not install the signs, the Minister may carry out the

installation.

Part

XIV.1, which authorizes the use of automated speed enforcement systems, is

repealed. Certain causes of action related to the repeal of

Part XIV.1 are

extinguished and various consequential and related amendments are made.

SCHEDULE 6

ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT

The

Schedule amends clause 48 (8.2) (

b) of the Ontario

Heritage Act by replacing the reference to the Agreement on Internal

Trade with a reference to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. The

Schedule also

term “investigation” with “inspection” to match the term used in the

cross-referenced provision.

SCHEDULE 7

ONTARIO LABOUR MOBILITY ACT, 2009

Section

10.1 of the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009 is

amended to include certain rules that apply with respect to individuals who are

deemed certified in a regulated occupation under that section. A corresponding

regulation-making authority is added to

section 25 of the Act. Some technical

amendments are also made.

SCHEDULE 8

REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT, 1991

The

Schedule amends the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 .

The major elements are set out below.

Sections

31 and 32 of the Act are amended to allow persons who are prescribed by the

regulations to perform specified acts related to audiology, dental technology,

dentistry and denturism. A related regulation-making power is added to

subsection 43 (1).

The

Health Professions Procedural Code in

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended to enact

a new

section 22.19.1. This

section establishes a new procedure for

out-of-province applicants who apply for registration with a health profession

College that is prescribed in the regulations. The new procedure is similar to

the existing procedure in

section 22.18, but only permits a more limited range

of registration requirements to be imposed on the applicant. The Registrar of

the College has to either register the applicant or refuse the registration and

refer it to the Registration Committee within two business days.

New

section 22.19.2 allows Registrars to impose an interim suspension on these

out-of-province members if the Registrar becomes aware of information that

would have resulted in a refusal to issue the certificate to the member or the

imposition of terms, conditions or limitations on the certificate. The matter

is then referred to the Registration Committee to assess whether to rescind the

interim suspension, to revoke the member’s certificate or to impose terms,

conditions or limitations on it. The procedure for this referral is set out.

The appeal provision in

section 70 of the Code does not apply to these hearings

by the Registration Committee.

amendments are made throughout the Code.

New

regulation-making powers are added to subsection 43 (1) of the Act to prescribe

Colleges that will be subject to these new rules and to exempt these applicants

or members from specified requirements.

The

Act is also amended to replace existing references to the “Agreement on

Internal Trade” with new references to the “Canadian Free Trade Agreement”.

SCHEDULE 9

SPECIES CONSERVATION ACT, 2025

The

Schedule amends the Species Conservation Act, 2025 .

Clause (1) (

b) is amended to provide that the purpose of the Act is to protect

species at risk. The definition of “section 16 activity” is amended to add

reference to a part of a living or dead member of a species that is listed on

the Protected Species in Ontario List. Subsection 16 (4) is amended to address

species that were listed as extirpated, endangered or threatened on the Species

at Risk in Ontario List under the Endangered Species Act,

2007 . Subsection 37 (1) is repealed and replaced to align with the

circumstances set out in

section 38. Various other technical amendments are

made.

SCHEDULE 10

AMENDMENTS TO REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSION STATUTES

The

Schedule amends a number of Acts that regulate health professions. The

amendments add the power to make regulations that would exempt prescribed

persons from the title protection provisions of those Acts.

SCHEDULE 11

CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE SPECIES CONSERVATION ACT, 2025 AND

OTHER RELATED AMENDMENTS

Various

statutes are amended with respect to the Species

Conservation Act, 2025 .

The Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994 is amended to

provide that the prohibition in

section 16 of the Species

Conservation Act, 2025 does not apply to certain forest operations and

no orders under

section 36, 37 or 38 of the Species

Conservation Act, 2025 shall be issued in respect of such operations.

The definition of “species at risk” is also updated.

The

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 is amended

to change a reference to the Species at Risk in Ontario List under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 to a reference to the Protected

Species in Ontario List under the Species Conservation

Act, 2025 .

The

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

is amended to update the references to prohibitions under sections 15 and 16 of

the Species Conservation Act, 2025 .

Section

8 of the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park Act, 2003

is amended to replace the reference to the Species at Risk in Ontario List

under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 with a reference

to species classified as extirpated, endangered, threatened or of special

concern by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario.

The

definition of “prescribed instrument” in

section 2 of the Lake

Simcoe Protection Act, 2008 is amended to include the Species Conservation Act, 2025 .

Subsection

5 (1) of the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves

Act, 2006 is amended to add a definition of “species at risk” that

refers to species classified as extirpated, endangered, threatened or of

special concern by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario.

Bill 56 2025

Act to amend various Acts

Preamble

Contents

of this Act

Commencement

Short

title

Schedule 1

Clean

Water Act, 2006

Schedule 2

Crown

Forest Sustainability Act, 1994

Schedule 3

Drug

and Pharmacies Regulation Act

Schedule 4

Healing

Arts Radiation Protection Act

Schedule 5

Highway

Traffic Act

Schedule 6

Ontario

Heritage Act

Schedule 7

Ontario

Labour Mobility Act, 2009

Schedule 8

Regulated

Health Professions Act, 1991

Schedule 9

Species

Conservation Act, 2025

Schedule 10

Amendments

to Regulated Health Profession Statutes

Schedule 11

Consequential

Amendments in Respect of the Species Conservation Act, 2025 and Other Related

Amendments

Preamble

The

Government of Ontario is committed to:

Protecting

Ontario workers from economic challenges and uncertainty by making Ontario the

most competitive place in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business.

Supporting

workers and businesses with improved labour mobility to support nation-building

projects.

Building

a more competitive Ontario economy by streamlining government processes for

permits and approvals and lowering costs for taxpayers and businesses.

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

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 Building

a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 .

SCHEDULE 1

CLEAN WATER ACT, 2006

(1) Paragraph 4 of subsection 22 (2) of the Clean

Water Act, 2006 is amended by adding “Subject to the regulations made

under subsection 108 (1)” at the beginning.

(2) Section

22 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsections:

Same

(8.1) Subject

to the regulations made under subsection 108 (1), where an activity engaged in

at a particular location is identified in an assessment report as a significant

drinking water threat, a source protection plan shall not, for the purposes of

satisfying paragraph 2 of subsection (2), include any policy in respect of a

decision described in subsection 42.1 (1) except if the policy is one of the

following:

1. A

policy prohibiting a person from engaging in the activity at that location, but

only if that person was not engaged in that activity at that location

immediately before the source protection plan took effect.

2. A

policy requiring the person or body authorized to make the decision in respect

of that activity to ensure the decision is designed to achieve the objectives

set out in paragraph 2 of subsection (2).

Prescribed

wording

(8.2) A

policy set out in subsection (8.1) shall be set out in the source protection

plan using the prescribed wording, if any.

Regulations

(8.3) The

Minister may, by regulation, require a source protection authority to,

(

a) review

a source protection plan within the prescribed period;

(

b) if

applicable, amend the plan to,

(

i) remove

any policy in the plan in respect of a decision to issue, otherwise create or

amend a prescribed instrument that does not comply with subsections (8.1) and

(8.2), and

(ii) replace

any significant threat policy that is removed under subclause (

i) with a

significant threat policy that complies with subsections (8.1) and (8.2); and

(

c) within

the prescribed period, give the Director notice that the requirements of

clauses (

a) and (

b) have been satisfied.

Subclause 29 (1) (b) (

i) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

(

i) in

accordance with the directions of the Minister,

(

A) undertake

additional consultation on the plan with such persons or bodies the Minister

believes should be consulted before determining whether to approve the plan,

(

B) amend

the source protection plan, or

(

C) both,

and

Section 30 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Publication

of deemed approval

(2) As

soon as reasonably possible after an amendment to a source protection plan is

deemed to be approved by the Minister in accordance with subsection 34 (6) or

(7), the Minister shall publish notice of the approval on the environmental

registry.

Section 32 of the Act is amended by striking out “If the Minister has approved

a source protection plan, the source protection authority shall” at the

beginning and substituting “If the Minister has approved a source protection

plan, or if a source protection plan has been deemed to be approved, the source

protection authority shall”.

(1) Subsection 34 (4) of the Act is amended by adding “Except in

circumstances prescribed for the purposes of subsection (8)” at the beginning.

(2) Section

34 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsections:

Written

statement from Director

(4.1) The

source protection authority shall not submit the proposed amendments to the

Minister under subsection (4) unless the source protection authority first

obtains a written statement from the Director confirming that the proposed

amendments include all the prescribed documents and information and that the

prescribed documents and information are accurate and complete.

. . . .

Deemed

approval, s. 29 (1) (a)

(6) If

the Minister does not exercise an option set out in subsection 29 (1) within

120 days after the source protection authority submits the proposed amendments

under subsection (4) or such other period that is prescribed, the proposed

amendments are deemed to be approved under clause 29 (1) (a).

Deemed

approval, s. 29 (2) (a)

(7) If

the Minister does not exercise an option under subsection 29 (2) within 120

days after the resubmission of a plan under that subsection or such other

period that is prescribed, the proposed amendments are deemed to be approved

under clause 29 (2) (a).

Source

protection authority to decide re approval

(8) In

the prescribed circumstances and according to any prescribed process, the

source protection authority shall decide whether to approve the proposed

amendments.

Same

(9) As

soon as reasonably possible after a source protection plan amendment is

approved by a source protection authority under subsection (8), the source

protection authority shall,

(

a) publish

notice of the approval of the amendments and the approved amendments on the

source protection authority’s website, together with,

(

i) a

brief explanation of the effect, if any, of any comments and resolutions

submitted as part of the consultation process for the amendment on the source

protection authority’s decision, and

(ii) any

other information that the source protection authority considers appropriate; and

(

b) provide

notice of the approval of the source protection plan amendment and any

prescribed information to any prescribed persons or bodies.

Same

(10) A

source protection plan amendment approved by a source protection authority

under subsection (8) takes effect on the date notice is published under

subsection (9) or on such later date as is specified in the source protection

plan.

Subsections 39 (7) and (8) of the Act are repealed.

The Act is amended by adding the following section:

Prescribed

instruments

42.1

(1) Subject

to a regulation made under clause 108 (1) (g.5), (g.6) or (g.7), a person or

body that makes a decision to issue, otherwise create or amend a prescribed

instrument shall ensure that,

(

a) if

the source protection plan includes a prohibition described in paragraph 1 of

subsection 22 (8.1), the decision conforms to the prohibition; or

(

b) if

the source protection plan contains the policy

described in paragraph 2 of subsection 22 (8.1), the decision is designed

to achieve the objectives set out in paragraph 2 of subsection 22 (2).

Review

re policy

(2) Subject

to a regulation made under clause 108 (1) (g.5), (g.6) or (g.7), if a source

protection plan contains a policy described in paragraph 2 of subsection 22

(8.1) in respect of a prescribed instrument and a person or body has issued or

otherwise created the prescribed instrument before the source protection plan

took effect, the person or body shall,

(

a) review

the instrument within the prescribed period; and

(

b) if the person or body determines that an amendment is

necessary to ensure the instrument is designed to achieve the objectives set

out paragraph 2 of subsection 22 (2), amend the instrument .

Failure

to comply with section

(3) Subject

to a regulation made under clause 108 (1) (g.5), (g.6) or (g.7), if, in the

Minister’s opinion, a person or body has failed to comply with the requirements

of this section, the Minister may,

(

a) advise

the person or body of the failure;

(

b) request

the person or body to take such steps as are authorized by law to correct the

failure; and

(

c) require

the person or body to report to the Minister on any steps taken under clause

(b).

Prescribed

requirements

(4) Every

person or body shall comply with any prescribed requirements regarding

demonstrating that the person or body’s decision to issue, otherwise create or

amend a prescribed instrument complies with this section, including

requirements for recording and reporting the decision to the source protection

authority for the purpose of a report prepared under

section 46.

Regulations

(5) The

Minister may, by regulation, require a source protection authority to,

(

a) review

a source protection plan within the prescribed period;

(

b) if

applicable, amend the plan to remove any policy specified in the regulation

that in the Minister’s opinion is no longer necessary or advisable as a result

of the requirements set out in subsection (4);

(

c) within

the prescribed period, give the Director notice that the requirements of

clauses (

a) and (

b) have been satisfied.

authority

(6) This

section does not permit or require a person or body,

(

a) to

issue or otherwise create an instrument that it does not otherwise have

authority to issue or otherwise create; or

(

b) to

make amendments that it does not otherwise have authority to make.

Section 43 of the Act is repealed.

Subsection 44 (1) of the Act is repealed.

Subsection 108 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following clauses:

(g.1) governing

source protection plans, including prohibiting policies from being included in

source protection plans;

(g.2) prescribing

exceptions to the requirements of subsection 22 (8.1);

(g.3) prescribing

wording for the purpose of subsection 22 (8.2);

(g.4) prescribing

requirements and periods for the purposes of subsection 22 (8.3);

(g.5) governing

and clarifying the application of

section 42.1, including determining when a

prescribed instrument does not conform with a significant threat policy set out

in a source protection plan for the purpose of that

section and determining the

nature of the non-conformity;

(g.6) dealing

with any problems or issues arising as a result of the application of

section

42.1;

(g.7) resolving

any non-conformity between provisions of prescribed instruments and provisions

of significant threat policies set out in source protection plans, including

determining how prescribed instruments must be amended to resolve the

non-conformity;

(g.8) prescribing

a period for the purposes of clause 42.1 (2) (a);

(g.9) prescribing

requirements for the purposes of subsection 42.1 (4);

(g.10) specifying

policies and prescribing requirements and periods for the purposes of

subsection 42.1 (5);

(1) Subsection 109 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following

clauses:

(

d) prescribing

documents and information for the purposes of subsection 34 (4.1);

(d.1) before

approving an amendment to a source protection plan under subsection 34 (8),

requiring the source protection authority to obtain the Director’s approval for

any portion of an assessment report of a source protection plan that is

affected by the proposed amendment;

(2) Clauses

109 (1) (k), (

l) and (

m) of the Act are repealed.

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council.

SCHEDULE 2

CROWN FOREST SUSTAINABILITY ACT, 1994

(1) Section 8 of the Crown Forest

Sustainability Act, 1994 is amended by adding the following subsection:

Same

(1.1) A

forest management plan prepared under subsection (1) may apply to one or more

management units.

(2) Clause

8 (2) (

a) of the Act is amended by adding “or management units to which the

plan applies” after “management unit”.

(3) Clause

8 (2) (

b) of the Act is amended by adding “or management units to which the

plan applies” after “management unit”.

Subsection 10 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “a management unit” at

the end and substituting “one or more management units”.

Subsection 17 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “a management unit” at

the end and substituting “one or more management units”.

Section 44 of the Act is repealed.

Clause 57 (1) (

c) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

(

c) order the person to stop harvest or

removal activities authorized by the licence or permit.

(1) Clauses 58 (1) (

a) and (

b) of the Act are repealed and the

following substituted:

(

a) without

the authority of a forest resource licence or a permit, harvests or removes

forest resources in a Crown forest or uses forest resources in a Crown forest

for a designated purpose is liable to a penalty of not more than the greater

of,

(i) $15,000,

and

(ii) five

times the value of any forest resources harvested or removed without the

authority of a forest resource licence or permit;

(

b) fails

to comply with a forest resource licence or permit is liable to a penalty of

not more than the greater of,

(i) $15,000,

and

(ii) five

times the value of any forest resources harvested or removed in contravention

of the forest resource licence or permit;

(2) Clause

58 (1) (

e) of the Act is amended by striking out “or 44”.

(1) Paragraph 29 of subsection 69 (1) of the Act is repealed.

(2) Section

69 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Same,

Minister

(1.1) The

Minister may make regulations approving a manual prepared under

section 68 or

an amendment to a manual.

(3) Subsection

69 (2) of the Act is amended by striking out “under subsection (1)” and

substituting “under this section”.

(1) This

section applies only if Bill 46 ( Protect

Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act, 2025 , introduced on June 4, 2025)

receives Royal Assent.

(2) References

in this

section to provisions of Bill 46 are references to those provisions as

they were numbered in the first reading version of the Bill.

(3) On

the later of the day the Building a More Competitive

Economy Act, 2025 receives Royal Assent and the day

section 12 of

Schedule

8 to Bill 46 comes into force, clause 57 (1) (

c) of the Crown

Forest Sustainability Act, 1994 is repealed and the following

substituted:

(

c) order

the person to stop harvest or removal activities authorized by the licence,

permit or regulation.

Commencement

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

Schedule

comes into force on the day the Building a More

Competitive Economy Act, 2025 receives Royal Assent.

(2) Section

4 and subsection 6 (2) come into force on a day to be named by order of the

Lieutenant Governor in Council.

SCHEDULE 3

DRUG AND PHARMACIES REGULATION ACT

(1) Subsection 1 (1) of the Drug and Pharmacies

Regulation Act is amended by adding the following

definitions:

“chiropodist”

means a member of the College of Chiropodists of Ontario or another person

prescribed by the regulations; (“podologue”)

“dental

hygienist” means a member of the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario or

another person prescribed by the regulations; (“hygiéniste dentaire”)

“midwife”

means a member of the College of Midwives of Ontario or another person

prescribed by the regulations; (“sage-femme”)

“optometrist”

means a member of the College of Optometrists of Ontario or another person

prescribed by the regulations; (“optométriste”)

(2) The

definitions of “intern”, “intern technician”, “Minister”, “pharmacist” and

“pharmacy technician” in subsection 1 (1) of the Act are repealed and the

following substituted:

“intern”

means a member of the College who holds a certificate of registration as an

intern under the Pharmacy Act, 1991 ; (“interne”)

“intern

technician” means a member of the College who holds a certificate of

registration as an intern technician under the Pharmacy

Act, 1991 ; (“technicien stagiaire”)

“Minister”

means the Minister of Health or such other member of the Executive Council as

may be assigned the administration of this Act under the Executive

Council Act ; (“ministre”)

“pharmacist”

means a member of the College who holds a certificate of registration as a

pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1991 or another

person prescribed by the regulations; (“pharmacien”)

“pharmacy

technician” means a member of the College who holds a certificate of

registration as a pharmacy technician under the Pharmacy

Act, 1991 or another person prescribed by the regulations; (“technicien

en pharmacie”)

(1) Subsection 118 (2) of the Act is repealed and the following

substituted:

Same

(2) Nothing

in this Act prevents any person from selling or dispensing a drug to,

(

a) a

person authorized under a health profession Act as defined in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 to dispense,

prescribe, administer, compound or sell drugs; or

(

b) another

person prescribed by the regulations.

(2) Subsection

118 (3) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Same

(3) Nothing

in this Act prevents any person from selling, to a chiropodist, dental

hygienist, midwife or optometrist, a drug that the health professional may use

in the course of engaging in the practice of their profession.

Section 142 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Definition

of pharmacist

(6) Despite

the definition of “pharmacist” in subsection 1 (1), a reference to a

“pharmacist” in this

section does not include a person prescribed by the

regulations.

Section 144 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Definition

of pharmacist

(3) Despite

the definition of “pharmacist” in subsection 1 (1), a reference to a

“pharmacist” in this

section does not include a person prescribed by the

regulations.

Subsection 160 (4) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Location

where drugs accepted

(4) No

member, no person who is exempted from subsections 10 (1) and (2) of the Pharmacy Act, 1991 by a regulation made under that Act

and no pharmacy shall receive any drug from a wholesale distributor of drugs

other than at the location of a pharmacy that ordered the drugs, except where

appropriate in the best interest of a patient or patients.

Subsection 161 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

(

v) respecting

anything that, under this Act, may or must be prescribed or done by regulation.

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the later of January 1, 2026 and the day the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 receives

Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 4

HEALING ARTS RADIATION PROTECTION ACT

(1) Clause 6 (1) (

a) of the Healing Arts

Radiation Protection Act is amended by striking out “or another person

prescribed by the regulations” at the end.

(2) The

at the end.

(3) Clause

6 (1) (

g) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

(

g) a

member of the College of Nurses of Ontario who holds an extended certificate of

registration under the Nursing Act, 1991 ; or

(

h) a

person who is prescribed by the regulations.

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the later of January 1, 2026 and the day the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 receives

Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 5

HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT

Paragraph 3 of subsection 7 (11) of the Highway Traffic

Act is repealed.

Subsection 12 (2.4) of the Act is amended by striking out “an electronic toll

system, automated speed enforcement system or red light camera system” and

substituting “an electronic toll system or red light camera system”.

(1) Subsection 13 (3) of the Act is repealed.

(2) Subsection

13 (4) of the Act is amended by striking out “subsection (2), (3), (3.0.1) or

(3.1)” and substituting “subsection (2), (3.0.1) or (3.1)”.

The Act is amended by adding the following section:

Directive

to install signs in school zones

128.0.1

(1) The

Minister may issue directives requiring a municipality to install signs in

school zones on highways under its jurisdiction and may, in the directive,

specify a date by which the installation must be completed.

Requirement

to comply

(2) A

municipality that receives a directive issued under subsection (1) shall comply

with it.

Same

(3) If

a directive issued under subsection (1) specifies a date by which installation

must be completed, the municipality shall comply with the directive by that

date.

Minister

(4) If

a municipality does not comply with a directive as required by subsection

(2) or (3), the Minister or a person acting on behalf of the Minister may enter

upon a highway under the jurisdiction of the municipality and do anything

necessary to carry out the installation of the signs.

Obstruction

(5) A person shall not hinder, obstruct or

interfere with the installation of signs under this section.

Municipality

to provide information

(6) A

municipality shall provide to the Minister, by the date specified by the

Minister, any information that the Minister requests to facilitate the

installation of signs under subsection (4).

Minister

powers

(7) The

Minister or a person acting on behalf of the Minister may carry out the

installation of signs under subsection (4) despite any requirement that would

otherwise apply in respect of the installation under

an Act, regulation,

by-law, order, permit, approval or licence.

Part XIV.1 of the Act is repealed.

(1) Subsection 206.3 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “Part

XIV.1”.

(2) Subsection

206.3 (3) of the Act is amended by striking out “an automated speed enforcement

system under

Part XIV.1 or” wherever it appears.

Section 206.4 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Regulations

206.4 The Lieutenant Governor

in Council may make regulations requiring and governing the display of signs

referred to in clause 206.3 (3) (b).

Section 206.5 of the Act is amended by striking out “Part XIV.1”.

Part XIV.5 of the Act is amended by adding the following section:

Extinguishment of certain causes of action re

repeal of

Part XIV.1

206.6

(1) No cause

of action arises against a municipality, municipal council, or any current or

former member of the council of the municipality or employee, officer or agent of

a municipality, the Crown or any current or former member of the Executive

Council, Deputy Minister or employee, officer or agent of the Crown as a direct

or indirect result of the breach, termination or frustration of a contract

between a municipality and a supplier or vendor of equipment used for an

automated speed enforcement system before the end of the term of the contract

that occurs following the repeal of

Part XIV.1.

remedy

(2) No

costs, compensation or damages, including for loss of revenue, profit or any other

alleged loss, whether direct or indirect, are owing or payable to any person by

a person referred to in subsection (1), and no remedy, including a remedy in

contract, restitution or tort, a remedy for misfeasance, bad faith or a breach

of trust or fiduciary obligation, any equitable remedy

or any remedy under any statute, is available to any person against a

person referred to in subsection (1), in connection with anything referred to

in that subsection.

Proceedings

barred

(3) No proceeding that is directly or indirectly

based on or related to anything referred to in subsection (1) may be brought or

maintained against any person referred to in that subsection.

Same

(4) Subsections

(2) and (3) do not apply with respect to an application for judicial review or a claim for constitutional remedy , but do apply

with respect to any other court, administrative or arbitral proceeding claiming

any remedy or relief, including specific performance, an injunction,

declaratory relief or the enforcement of a judgment, order or award made

outside Ontario.

No costs awarded

(5) No

costs shall be awarded against any person in respect of a proceeding that

cannot be brought or maintained under subsection (3).

No expropriation or injurious affection

(6) Nothing

referred to in subsection (1) constitutes an expropriation or injurious

affection for the purposes of the Expropriations Act

or otherwise at law.

Proceedings

by Crown not prevented

(7) This

section does not apply with respect to proceedings brought by the Crown.

(1) Paragraph 3 of subsection 207 (2) of the Act is amended by

striking out “129” and substituting “128”.

(2) Subsection

207 (7) of the Act is amended by striking out “under

section 128 on the basis

of evidence acquired through the use of an automated speed enforcement system

or”.

Paragraphs 2, 2.1 and 3 of subsection 210.1 (1) of the Act are repealed and the

following substituted:

2. A

proceeding that is based on evidence obtained through the use of an automated

system described in

Part XIV.2,

Part XIV.3 or

Part XIV.4.

Commencement

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

Schedule

comes into force on the later of November 14, 2025 and

the day the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025

receives Royal Assent.

(2) Section

4 comes into force on the day the Building a More

Competitive Economy Act, 2025 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 6

ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT

Clause 48 (8.2) (

b) of the Ontario Heritage Act is

amended by striking out “Agreement on Internal Trade” and substituting “Canadian

Free Trade Agreement”.

“investigation” in the portion before subclause (

i) and substituting

“inspection”.

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Building a

More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 7

ONTARIO LABOUR MOBILITY ACT, 2009

1 The definition of

“co-ordinating Minister” in subsection 2 (1) of the Ontario

Labour Mobility Act, 2009 is amended by striking out “Minister of

Advanced Education and Skills Development” and substituting “Minister of

Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development”.

Clause 9 (3) (

a) of the Act is amended by striking out “the website of the

Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development” and substituting “a

website of the Government of Ontario”.

(1) Subsection 10.1 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “the

regulated occupation” and substituting “the same regulated occupation” and by

striking out “subsections (2) and (3)” at the end and substituting “subsections

(2) to (4)”.

(2) Subsection

10.1 (4) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Effect

of deemed certification

(4) Except

as otherwise provided in the regulations, if an individual is deemed to be

certified in a regulated occupation in Ontario under this section, the

following rules apply:

1. The

individual shall be treated as certified in that regulated occupation under the

applicable authorizing statute referred to in Column 2 of Table 1 for all

purposes, subject to paragraph 3.

2. The

individual is entitled to all the rights and benefits of certification and

subject to all the obligations and laws applicable to individuals certified in

that regulated occupation for the period of the deemed certification, subject

to paragraph 3 and subsection (5).

3. The

individual is not required to meet or continue to meet any requirements related

to an application for certification under the applicable authorizing statute

for the period of the deemed certification.

Continuing

jurisdiction of regulatory authority

(5) For

the purposes of paragraph 2 of subsection (4), if the applicable authorizing

statute referred to in Column 2 of Table 1 provides for the continuing

jurisdiction of an Ontario regulatory authority beyond an individual’s period

of certification, the Ontario regulatory authority also has that continuing

jurisdiction beyond an individual’s period of deemed certification.

effect on grounds for suspension or revocation

(6) For

greater certainty, nothing in paragraph 3 of subsection (4) prevents a

regulatory authority from suspending or revoking an individual’s deemed

certification on the grounds that the individual has failed to meet an

obligation or to comply with a law that applies to individuals certified in

that regulated occupation and that relates to conduct during the period of the

deemed certification.

greater right or benefit

(7) For

greater certainty, if an individual who is deemed to be certified in a

regulated occupation in Ontario under this

section applies to the Ontario

regulatory authority for certification in the regulated occupation under

section 9, nothing in this

section entitles that individual to any greater

right or benefit in the application process than other applicants for

certification.

renewal or extension

(8) For

greater certainty, an individual deemed to be certified in a regulated

occupation in Ontario under this

section is not entitled to a renewal or

extension of the individual’s deemed certification.

Clause 25 (a.1) of the Act is amended by adding the following subclause:

(

v) governing

the rules that apply in respect of the deemed certification of individuals

under subsection 10.1 (4), including modifying those rules, providing for

exceptions to those rules or establishing new rules;

Plan

for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018

Section 1 of

Schedule 20 to the Plan for Care and

Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018 is repealed.

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Building a

More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 8

REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT, 1991

Section 31 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991

is repealed and the following substituted:

Dispensing

hearing aids

31 No person shall dispense a hearing aid for a hearing

impaired person except under a prescription by,

(

a) a

member authorized by a health profession Act to prescribe a hearing aid for a

hearing impaired person; or

(

b) a

person who is prescribed by the regulations.

(1) Subsection 32 (1) of the Act is repealed and the following

substituted:

Dental

devices, etc.

(1) No

person shall design, construct, repair or alter a dental prosthetic,

restorative or orthodontic device unless,

(

a) the

technical aspects of the design, construction, repair or alteration are

supervised by,

(

i) a

member of the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario or the Royal College

of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, or

(ii) a

person who is prescribed by the regulations;

(

b) the

person is a member of a College mentioned in clause (a); or

(

c) the

person is prescribed by the regulations.

(2) Subsection

32 (3) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Supervisors

(3) No

person shall supervise the technical aspects of the design, construction,

repair or alteration of a dental prosthetic, restorative or orthodontic device

unless they are,

(

a) a

member of the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario or the Royal College

of Dental Surgeons of Ontario; or

(

b) a

person who is prescribed by the regulations.

(3) Subsection

32 (4) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Removable

dentures

(4) This

section does not apply with respect to the design, construction, repair or

alteration of removable dentures for the patients of a member of the College of

Denturists of Ontario, or the patients of a person who is prescribed by the

regulations, if the member or prescribed person does the designing,

construction, repair or alteration or supervises their technical aspects.

Subsection 43 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following clauses:

(g.0.1) prescribing

persons for the purposes of sections 31 or 32;

. . . .

(h.0.3) prescribing

Colleges for the purposes of clause 22.19.1 (1) (

a) of the Code;

(h.0.4) exempting

applicants who apply for registration as described in subsection 22.19.1 (1) of

the Code from College by-laws that require them to pay fees upon application

for a certificate of registration and providing for alternative fees;

(h.0.5) exempting

members who applied for registration as described in subsection 22.19.1 (1) of

the Code from requirements in a regulation made under clause 95 (1) (

r) of the

Code respecting a College’s quality assurance program;

Subsection 1 (1) of

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended by adding the following

definition:

“business

day” means a day from Monday to Friday, other than a holiday as defined in

section 87 of the Legislation Act, 2006 ; (“jour

ouvrable”)

Section 15 of

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended by adding the following

subsection:

Out-of-province

applicants to prescribed Colleges

(6) Despite

clause (2) (b), if the Registrar is of the opinion that terms, conditions or

limitations should be imposed on a certificate of registration of the applicant

and the applicant is an individual described in subsection 22.19.1 (1), the

Registrar shall not refer the application to the Registration Committee and

shall instead issue the certificate of registration to the applicant with the

terms, conditions or limitations in accordance with subsection 22.19.1 (8).

(1) The definition of “Agreement on Internal Trade” in subsection

22.15 (1) of

Schedule 2 to the Act is repealed.

(2) Subsection

22.15 (1) of

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended by adding the following

definition:

“Canadian

Free Trade Agreement” means the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, effective July

1, 2017, between the governments of Canada, the provinces of Canada and the

territories of Canada, as amended from time to time; (“Accord de libre-échange

canadien”)

(3) Clause

(

b) of the definition of “out-of-province certificate” in subsection 22.15 (1)

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended by striking out “the Agreement on Internal

Trade” and substituting “the Canadian Free Trade Agreement”.

Clause 22.16 (

b) of

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended by striking out “the

Agreement on Internal Trade” at the end and substituting “the Canadian Free

Trade Agreement”.

Section 22.17 of

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended by striking out “the

Agreement on Internal Trade” at the end and substituting “the Canadian Free

Trade Agreement”.

(1) Subsection 22.18 (1) of

Schedule 2 to the Act is repealed and

the following substituted:

When

applicant holds out-of-province certificate, non-prescribed professions

(1) This

section applies when an individual,

(

a) applies

for registration with a College that is not prescribed in a regulation made

pursuant to clause 43 (1) (h.0.3) of the Regulated Health

Professions Act, 1991 ; and

(

b) already

holds an out-of-province certificate that is equivalent to the certificate of

registration being applied for.

(2) Clause

22.18 (3) (

b) of

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended by striking out “Article 708

of the Agreement on Internal Trade” at the end and substituting “Article 707 of

the Canadian Free Trade Agreement”.

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended by adding the following sections:

When

applicant holds out-of-province certificate, prescribed professions

22.19.1

(1) This

section applies when an individual,

(

a) applies

for registration with a College that is prescribed in a regulation made

pursuant to clause 43 (1) (h.0.3) of the Regulated Health

Professions Act, 1991 ; and

(

b) already

holds an out-of-province certificate that is equivalent to the certificate of

registration being applied for.

Material

additional training, etc. cannot be required

(2) The

College shall not impose any registration requirement that would require the

applicant to have, undertake, obtain or undergo any material additional

training, experience, examinations or assessments.

Permitted

registration requirements

(3) Subsection

(2) does not prohibit the College from imposing registration requirements that

would require the applicant to do one or more of the following:

1. If

the conditions set out in subsection (4) are met:

i. Pay

a fee upon application for registration and upon registration.

ii. Provide

evidence of good character.

2. If

the condition set out in paragraph 2 of subsection (4) is met, provide a

certificate, letter or other evidence from every body or individual from whom

the applicant currently holds an out-of-province certificate confirming that

the out-of-province certificate is in good standing.

3. If

the conditions set out in subsection (4) are met, meet any other requirement

specified by the College that does not involve material additional training,

experience, examinations or assessments.

Conditions

for subs. (3)

(4) The

conditions referred to in subsection (3) are:

1. Subject

to subsection (7), the requirement imposed by the College on applicants who

hold an out-of-province certificate must be the same as, or substantially

similar to but no more onerous than, the requirement imposed by the College on

applicants who do not hold an out-of-province certificate.

2. The

requirement imposed by the College must not be a disguised restriction on

labour mobility.

Permitted

measures

(5) This

section does not prohibit the College from carrying out the following measures

in respect of the applicant if the conditions set out in subsection (6) are

met:

1. Refusing

to issue a certificate of registration to the applicant or imposing terms,

conditions or limitations on the applicant’s certificate of registration if, in

the opinion of the Registrar, such action is necessary to protect the public

interest as a result of complaints, or criminal, disciplinary or other

proceedings, against the applicant in any jurisdiction whether in or outside

Canada, relating to the applicant’s competency, conduct or character.

2. If

the out-of-province certificate held by the applicant is subject to a term,

condition or limitation, having the Registrar impose an equivalent term,

condition or limitation on the certificate of registration to be issued to the

applicant.

Conditions

for subs. (5)

(6) The

conditions referred to in subsection (5) are:

1. Subject

to subsection (7), the measure carried out by the College with respect to

applicants who hold an out-of-province certificate must be the same as, or

substantially similar to but no more onerous than, the measure carried out by

the College with respect to applicants who do not hold an out-of-province

certificate.

2. The

measure carried out by the College must not be a disguised restriction on

labour mobility.

Costs

(7) Subject

to the regulations made under clause 43 (1) (h.0.4) of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 , the College shall

ensure that any registration requirements it imposes on the applicant and any

measures it carries out with respect to the applicant in connection with the

registration of the applicant do not result in the imposition on the applicant of

fees or other costs that are more onerous than those the College would impose

if the applicant did not hold an out-of-province certificate, unless the

difference in such fees or other costs reflects the actual cost differential to

the College.

Result

of application

(8) Within

two business days after receiving an application referred to in subsection (1),

the Registrar shall either,

(

a) register

the applicant, subject to any terms, conditions or limitations the Registrar

determines are appropriate; or

(

b) refuse

the application and refer it to the Registration Committee in accordance with

section 15.

Interim

suspension of out-of-province registrants, prescribed Colleges

22.19.2

(1) The Registrar of a

College that is prescribed in a regulation made pursuant to clause 43 (1) (h.0.3)

of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 may

immediately make an order suspending or imposing terms, conditions or

limitations on a member’s certificate of registration and referring the matter

to the Registration Committee if,

(

a) the

member was an individual described in subsection 22.19.1 (1) at the time of

their application to the College and received their certificate of registration

within the previous year; and

(

b) the

Registrar becomes aware of information that,

(

i) existed

at the time of the member’s application,

(ii) was

not provided to the Registrar at the time of the member’s application, and

(iii) is

of a nature that, in the Registrar’s opinion, would have resulted in a refusal to

issue the certificate to the member or the imposition of terms, conditions or

limitations on the certificate.

Duration

of order

(2) An

order made under subsection (1) continues in force until the order is withdrawn

or until an order is made by the Registration Committee in respect of the

matter under subsection (10).

Notice

to member

(3) A

Registrar who makes an order under subsection (1) shall,

(

a) refer

the matter to the Registration Committee; and

(

b) give

the member notice of the statutory grounds for the referral and of the member’s

right to make written submissions.

Matter

to be given precedence

(4) The

Registration Committee shall give precedence to the matter.

Disclosure

of file

(5) The

Registrar shall give a member who has been referred to the Registration

Committee under this

section all the information and a copy of each document

the College has that is relevant to the matter at the member’s request.

Exception

(6) The

Registrar may refuse to give the member anything that may, in the Registrar’s

opinion, jeopardize the safety of any person.

Process

for dealing with request

(7) The

Registrar shall establish a process for the purposes of dealing with a

disclosure request under subsection (5).

Panel

composition

(8) An

order made under subsection (1) shall be considered by a panel of the

Registration Committee selected by the chair from among the members of the

Committee, and subsections 17 (2) and (3) apply with respect to the panel.

Consideration

by panel

(9) A

member may make written submissions to the panel within 30 days after receiving

notice under subsection (3) or within any longer period the Registrar may

specify in the notice.

Orders

by panel

(10) After

considering the application and the submissions, the panel may make an order

doing any one or more of the following:

1. Direct

the Registrar to rescind the order made under subsection (1).

2. Direct

the Registrar to revoke the member’s certificate.

3. Direct

the Registrar to impose terms, conditions or limitations on the member’s

certificate.

Decision

in writing

(11) The

panel shall give its decision and reasons in writing to the member who is the

subject of the referral.

Effectiveness

of panel’s order

(12) In

a matter in which an order under subsection (1) was made, an order of a panel

of the Registration Committee directing the Registrar to revoke or impose terms,

conditions or limitations on a member’s certificate takes effect immediately.

Clause 22.20 (1) (

b) of

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended by striking out “the

Agreement on Internal Trade” and substituting “the Canadian Free Trade

Agreement”.

Section 70 of

Schedule 2 to the Act is amended by adding the following

subsection:

Exception

(4) Subsection

(1) does not apply with respect to a hearing by a panel of the Registration

Committee under

section 22.19.2.

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on later of January 1, 2026 and the day the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 receives

Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 9

SPECIES CONSERVATION ACT, 2025

Clause 1 (

b) of the Species Conservation Act, 2025

is amended by adding “at risk” after “species”.

Clauses (

b) and (

c) of the definition of “section 16 activity” in subsection 2

(1) of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:

(

b) possessing,

transporting, collecting, buying, selling, leasing, trading or offering to buy,

sell, lease or trade,

(

i) a

living or dead member of a species that is listed on the Protected Species in

Ontario List,

(ii) any

part of a living or dead member of a species referred to in subclause (i), or

(iii) anything

derived from a living or dead member of a species referred to in subclause (i),

(

c) selling,

leasing, trading or offering to sell, lease or trade anything that a person

represents to be a thing described in subclause (b) (i), (ii) or (iii); (“activité visée par

l’article 16”)

Section 15 of the Act is amended by adding “results in or” before “is likely

to”.

Paragraph 4 of subsection 16 (4) of the Act is repealed and the following

substituted:

4. Before

being listed as described in paragraph 3, the species was not previously listed

under its current name or any other common or scientific name on the Protected

Species in Ontario List.

5. Before

being listed as described in paragraph 3, the species was not previously listed

under its current name or any other common or scientific name as extirpated, endangered or threatened on the Species at

Risk in Ontario List under the Endangered Species Act,

2007 .

Subsection 37 (1) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Habitat

protection order

(1) The

Minister may issue an order described in subsection (2) in any of the following

circumstances:

1. A

regulation made under clause 65 (1) (

b) limits the definition of “habitat” in

respect of a species and the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that a

person is engaging in or about to engage in an activity that results in or is

likely to result in damage or destruction to an area that would otherwise be

habitat for the species.

2. A

species not listed on the Protected Species in Ontario List is classified in a

report submitted under

section 12 or 13 as extirpated, endangered or threatened

and the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is engaging in

or is about to engage in an activity that results in or is likely to result in

damage to or destruction of the species’ habitat.

3. The

Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is engaging in or is

about to engage in an activity described in subsection 16 (3) that results in

or is likely to result in damage or destruction to the habitat of a species

listed on the Protected Species in Ontario List.

4. The

Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is engaging in or is about

to engage in an activity that results in or is likely to result in damage or

destruction to an area that does not meet the definition of “habitat” in

subsection 2 (1) but is an area on which any member of a species listed on the

Protected Species in Ontario List directly depends in order to carry on its

life processes.

before “about to engage in”.

Paragraph 2 of subsection 49 (1) of the Act is amended by adding “prescribed”

before “provision”.

Section 56 of the Act is amended by striking out “was committed” at the end and

substituting “first came to the attention of a provincial officer”.

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the later of the day

section 1 of

Schedule 10

( Species Conservation Act, 2025 ) to the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 comes

into force and the day the Building a More Competitive

Economy Act, 2025 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 10

AMENDMENTS TO REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSION STATUTES

Audiology

and Speech-Language Pathology Act, 1991

1 The Audiology and Speech-Language

Pathology Act, 1991 is amended by adding the following section:

Minister

regulations

12 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in

Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from subsection 8

(1) or (2) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Chiropody Act, 1991

The Chiropody Act, 1991 is amended by adding the

following section:

Minister

regulations

13.2 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from the

following prohibitions and setting conditions on such an exemption:

1. The

prohibition in subsection 10 (1) on the use of the title “chiropodist” or any

variation, abbreviation or equivalent in another language.

2. The

prohibition in subsection 10 (2) on holding oneself out as a person who is

qualified to practise in Ontario as a chiropodist or in a specialty of

chiropody.

Dental Hygiene Act, 1991

The Dental Hygiene Act, 1991 is amended by adding

the following section:

Minister

regulations

12.2 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from

subsection 9 (1) or (2) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Dental

Technology Act, 1991

The Dental Technology Act, 1991 is amended by

adding the following section:

Minister

regulations

9.1 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from

subsection 7 (1), (2) or (3) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Dentistry

Act, 1991

The Dentistry Act, 1991 is amended by adding the

following section:

Minister

regulations

12.2 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from

subsection 9 (1) or (2) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Denturism

Act, 1991

The Denturism Act, 1991 is amended by adding the

following section:

Minister

regulations

10.1 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from

subsection 8 (1), (2) or (3) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Dietetics

Act, 1991

The Dietetics Act, 1991 is amended by adding the

following section:

Minister

regulations

10 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in

Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from subsection 7

(1) or (2) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Medical

Radiation and Imaging Technology Act, 2017

Section 12 of the Medical Radiation and Imaging Technology

Act, 2017 is repealed and the following substituted:

Minister

regulations

12 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in

Council, the Minister may make regulations,

(

a) prescribing

forms of energy, other than ionizing radiation, electromagnetism and

soundwaves, for the purposes of

section 3;

(

b) exempting

a person from subsection 9 (1) or (2) and setting

conditions on such an exemption .

Medicine

Act, 1991

Subsection 9 (2) of the Medicine Act, 1991 is

repealed and the following substituted:

Dentists

and exempted persons excepted

(2) Subsection

(1) does not apply to the use of the title “surgeon”, a variation or

abbreviation or an equivalent in another language by a member of the Royal

College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario or by a person who is exempted from

subsections 9 (1) and (2) of the Dentistry Act, 1991

by a regulation made under that Act.

Midwifery

Act, 1991

The Midwifery Act, 1991 is amended by adding the

following section:

Minister

regulations

12 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in

Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from subsection 8

(1) or (2) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Occupational

Therapy Act, 1991

The Occupational Therapy Act, 1991 is amended by

adding the following section:

Minister

regulations

11 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in

Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from subsection 7

(1) or (2) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Opticianry

Act, 1991

The Opticianry Act, 1991 is amended by adding the

following section:

Minister

regulations

11.1 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from

subsection 9 (1), (2) or (3) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Optometry

Act, 1991

The Optometry Act, 1991 is amended by adding the

following section:

Minister

regulations

12.2 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from

subsection 9 (1) or (2) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Pharmacy

Act, 1991

The Pharmacy Act, 1991 is amended by adding the

following section:

Minister

regulations

13.1 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from

subsection 10 (1) or (2) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Physiotherapy

Act, 1991

The Physiotherapy Act, 1991 is amended by adding

the following section:

Minister

regulations

11.2 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from

subsection 8 (1) or (2) and setting conditions on such an exemption.

Psychology

and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021

The Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021

is amended by adding the following section:

Minister

regulations

11.1 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant

Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from the

following prohibitions and setting conditions on such an exemption:

1. The

prohibition in subsection 8 (1) on the use of the title “psychologist” or

“psychological associate” or any variation, abbreviation or equivalent in

another language.

2. The

prohibition in subsection 8 (2) on holding oneself out as a person who is

qualified to practise in Ontario as a psychologist or psychological associate

or in any specialty of psychology.

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the later of January

1, 2026 and the day the Building a More Competitive

Economy Act, 2025 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 11

CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE SPECIES CONSERVATION ACT, 2025 AND

OTHER RELATED AMENDMENTS

Crown

Forest Sustainability Act, 1994

(1) The definition of “species at risk” in

section 3 of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994 is repealed and the

following substituted:

“species

at risk” means a species that is listed on the Protected Species in Ontario

List established under the Species Conservation Act, 2025 .

(“espèce en péril)”)

(2) Section

47.1 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Species

Conservation Act, 2025

47.1 (1) Subsection

16 (1) or (2) of the Species Conservation Act, 2025 ,

as applicable, does not apply to a person who kills, harms, captures, takes,

transports or possesses a member of a species at risk, or damages or destroys

the habitat of such a species, while the person is conducting forest operations,

(

a) in

a Crown forest;

(

b) in

accordance with an approved forest management plan; and

(

c) on

behalf of the Crown or under the authority of a forest resource licence.

(2) No

order shall be issued under

section 36, 37 or 38 of the Species

Conservation Act, 2025 with respect to a person conducting forest

operations in accordance with subsection (1).

Fish

and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997

(1) Section 2 of the Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Act, 1997 is repealed and the following substituted:

Species

Conservation Act, 2025

If a

provision of this Act and a provision of the Species

Conservation Act, 2025 conflict with respect to an animal, invertebrate

or fish, the provision that gives the animal, invertebrate or fish the most

protection prevails to the extent of the conflict.

(2) Subparagraph

2 i of subsection 40 (2) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

i. the

Protected Species in Ontario List under the Species

Conservation Act, 2025 , or

Freedom

of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Section 21.1 of the Freedom of Information and Protection

of Privacy Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Species

at risk

21.1 A head may refuse to

disclose a record where the disclosure could reasonably be expected to lead to

a contravention of

section 15 or 16 of the Species Conservation

Act, 2025 .

Kawartha

Highlands Signature Site Park Act, 2003

Section 8 of the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park

Act, 2003 is amended by striking out “including species listed on the

Species at Risk in Ontario List under the Endangered

Species Act, 2007 ” at the end and substituting “and having regard to the

species that are classified as extirpated, endangered, threatened or of special

concern by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario”.

Lake

Simcoe Protection Act, 2008

The definition of “prescribed instrument” in

section 2 of the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008 is amended by repealing

clause (e), by striking out “or” at the end of clause (

m) and by adding the

following clause:

(m.1) the

Species Conservation Act, 2025 , or

Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006

Subsection 5 (1) of the Provincial Parks and Conservation

Reserves Act, 2006 is amended by adding the following definition:

“species

at risk” means a species classified as extirpated, endangered, threatened or of

special concern by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario;

(“espèce en péril”)

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the later of the day

section 1 of

Schedule 10

( Species Conservation Act, 2025 ) to the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 comes

into force and the day the Building a More Competitive

Economy Act, 2025 receives Royal Assent.

Bill 56 Original (PDF)