Accelerating Infrastructure Development: New Ontario Bill Grants Increased Control Over Municipal Procedures for Swift Housing, Roadway, and Transit Projects
Bold Actions to Speed Up Construction and Lower Housing Costs in Ontario
Get ready, Ontario! The provincial government is stepping up its game with the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, aiming to streamline and modernize development approval processes to address housing shortages and boost economic growth.
Here's what you need to know:
Speeding up the Building Process
The new Act seeks to expedite home construction and infrastructure development by shaking up the approval process. This includes changes to Minister's Zoning Orders (MZOs), development fees, and infrastructure funding. The ultimate goal? To build more homes, faster.
Minister's Zoning Orders (MZOs)
MZOs, already a powerful tool in the hands of the provincial government, will become even more robust with this act. Previously, only one minister could issue MZOs. With this new legislation, not one but two ministers can do so, potentially speeding up the developmen process even more.
Development Fees
Development fees, used by municipalities to fund necessary infrastructure like sewers and roads, will no longer be paid upfront during the permitting process. Instead, they'll be paid at the end of construction — when the homeowner occupies the property. This change is intended to ease the financial burden on builders, but it remains to be seen how this will impact municipalities and their ability to fund necessary infrastructure.
Housing Shortage Solutions
The Act is part of the province's broader initiative to address the housing crisis and meet its goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2031. However, the government has yet to meet yearly targets set to achieve this ambitious goal.
What's Next?
This is just the start. The Act will likely face a mix of applause and criticism as Ontarians weigh in on the potential benefits and downsides of these changes. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
[1] "Province set to expand minister's zoning orders in Build Ontario Act," Toronto Star, February 9, 2023.[2] "Expanding Minister's Zoning Orders: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, February 2023.[3] "Changes to Inclusionary Zoning under the Build Ontario Act," BlogTO, February 2023.[4] "Build Ontario Act, 2023: The Chatty Guide," The Agenda with Steve Paikin, TVO, February 2023.
- In response to the housing crisis, the Ontario government's new act, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, aims to speed up home construction and infrastructure development, tackling the housing shortage and boosting the economy.
- The Act seeks to streamline the development approval process, with changes to Minister's Zoning Orders (MZOs), development fees, and infrastructure funding, all geared toward building more homes, faster.
- With this new legislation, not one but two ministers can issue MZOs, potentially accelerating the development process and addressing the shortages in Toronto and the greater Ontario community.
- One major change involves development fees, which will no longer be paid upfront during the permitting process, but at the end of construction, potentially easing the financial burden on builders throughout the media-covered policy-and-legislation changes.
- As the Act's implications unfold, Ontarians, including those in media, politics, and general news, are eagerly examining the potential benefits and drawbacks of the changes, with varying viewpoints on how these developments will impact the economy, housing market, and infrastructure development in Toronto and beyond.
