p44 s1 bill 56 b056ra e.pdf

Ontario — Bills

1ST SESSION, 44TH LEGISLATURE, ONTARIO 4 CHARLES III, 2025 Bill 56 (Chapter 11 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2025)

An Act to amend various Acts The Hon. A. Khanjin Minister of Red Tape Reduction 1st Reading October 20, 2025 2nd Reading October 29, 2025 3rd Reading October 30, 2025 Royal Assent November 3, 2025

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 t hreat, 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. S uch 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 th e 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 befor e 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 re gulation-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. A 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 system s, 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 amends the English version of clause 51.3 (1) (

b) of the Act by replacing the 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 o f 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. Th e 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. Related 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.

iii 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,

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

An Act to amend various Acts CONTENTS

Preamble 1. Contents of this Act 2. Commencement 3.

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 2

(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 A

Document details

Collection	Ontario — Bills
Citation	p44 s1 bill 56 b056ra e.pdf
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	p44 s1 bill 56 b056ra e.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	e784c70c35c8097b97af52e7ad39a6af0cfee932

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