January 9th, 2019
Proposed Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018
On December 6, 2018 the first reading of the proposed new Bill 66 took place, which if passed would establish the Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018. The bill proposes a number of legislative changes aimed at making it easier for businesses to create jobs and for people to find them. The proposed bill is a component of the Ontario Open for Business Action Plan.
The Province proposes to amend the Planning Act by adding an “open for business” planning by-law clause. The proposed legislative changes would create regulation-making authority to provide criteria for the use of the proposed new tool, which would help ensure municipalities are equipped with the tools they need to quickly respond to emerging job creation opportunities.
The purpose of the proposed regulation is to facilitate implementation of the proposed open-for-business planning by-law. The open-for-business planning by-law clause is intended to streamline provincial development approvals under the Planning Act to reduce barriers to new projects which create jobs and attract major employers. The tool would support the government’s 1-year service standard for provincial approvals related to employment generating land use planning proposals.
The details of the proposed Regulation and Act is available on the Environmental Registry of Ontario website. The province is seeking feedback on the proposed Bill 66 and has initiated a 45 day comment period. Public consultation began on December 6, 2018 and will continue until January 20, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.
Additional information can be found here:
https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/013-4125
https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/013-4239
https://www.ola.org/sites/default/files/node-files/bill/document/pdf/2018/2018-12/b066_e.pdf
