On May 12th Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Rob Flack, introduced Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025.

The Bill proposes amendments to the following statutes:

• Building Code Act, 1992

• Building Transit Faster Act, 2022

• City of Toronto Act, 2006

• Development Charges Act, 1997

• Metrolinx Act, 2006

• Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011

• Planning Act

If passed the Bill will among other provisions:

• Exempt the development of any part of a building or structure intended for use as a long-term care home from development charges.
• Allow for the delay of the payment of development charges for non-rental residential projects  to either the day a permit is issued under the Building Code Act, 1992 authorizing occupation of the building or on the day the building is first occupied, whichever comes first.

• Allow the Minister of Infrastructure to direct a municipality or its municipal agencies to provide the Minister or the Corporation with information and data that may be required to support the development of a provincial transit project or transit-oriented community project.

• Expand the list projects included in the definition of “priority transit project”