Province Introduces Bill 30

Province Introduces Bill 30, Working For Workers Seven Act, 2025 

Yesterday, the Ontario government tabled its seventh Working for Workers Bill (Bill 30). While the stated objective of supporting workers amidst potential job losses arising from the US-Canada trade dynamic is noted, one of its proposals raises significant concerns -- exempting Skills Development Fund Capital Stream-supported capital projects from the requirements of The Municipal Act and The Planning Act.  

Earlier exemptions from municipal planning approvals, such as those related to public universities and "community service facilities" like K-12 schools, hospitals, and long-term care homes are aimed to expedite planning for public entities. Bill 30, however, marks a significant shift by:

• Extending expedited planning processes and exemptions from municipal authorities to private entities without the robust accountability and regulatory frameworks that characterize broader public sector bodies, solely by virtue of their qualification to access a source of provincial funding with broad eligibility; and 
• Going beyond exemptions to The Planning Act to include exemptions to The Municipal Act. These powers could allow for waivers from municipal bylaws, including those related to property tax, development charges, and other local requirements with no clear purpose or rationale. 

The cumulative impact of what is now the proposed ability of four separate Ministers to override municipal land use planning and other authorities also raises significant concern by increasing the likelihood of unintended consequences and diffuse accountability. Currently before the legislature are proposals to provide powers to:

• The Minister of Infrastructure to use Minister's Zoning Orders (MZOs) to override The Planning Act as part of Bill 17; 
• The Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade to create Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to override The Planning Act and The Municipal Act as part of Bill 5; and  
• The Minister of Labour, Immigration, Skills and Training to override The Planning Act and The Municipal Act for those in receipt of capital funding from the Skills Development Fund under Bill 30.

AMO continues to support the need for bold and innovative action to respond to unprecedented economic challenges. However, the threat of tariffs cannot be used to justify any and all proposals to override provincial and municipal laws. AMO will continue to analyze the proposal and seek opportunities to provide commentary to the legislature.