This consultation was open from:
October 28, 2019
to November 27, 2019
Decision summary
We have passed legislative amendments to transfer the responsibility for vehicle emissions inspections and enforcement from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to the Ministry of Transportation.
Decision details
To protect Ontario’s air and reduce smog-causing pollutants while saving taxpayers’ money and modernizing services for drivers and businesses, Ontario is developing a new enhanced emissions testing program for the biggest polluters on our roads, such as commercial trucks and buses, and integrating the new program with the existing annual safety Motor Vehicle Inspection Station program in 2021.
Amendments that repeal Part III of the Environmental Protection Act and transfer the substance to the Highway Traffic Act have been made. These amendments transfer responsibility for vehicle emission inspections and enforcement from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to the Ministry of Transportation.
Combining the new enhanced emissions program with the annual safety inspection program means owners of these heavy diesel commercial vehicles will be able to get both an emissions and safety inspection at the same time and location — one inspection, with one digital result.
This change will come into force on July 1, 2021.
Stakeholder consultation
In 2020, we will establish an external multi-stakeholder working group to provide advice on:
- additional program implementation options, including the design of appropriate incentives and burden reduction measures for business and industry who consistently demonstrate cleaner vehicle fleets
- strategies for older diesel vehicles that were manufactured without emissions control equipment or on-board diagnostic systems.
Further program design details on the integrated vehicle safety and emissions inspection program will be posted to the Environmental Registry in 2020.
Effects of consultation
What we heard
We considered all feedback received during the comment period for this posting. We received comments from a wide range of interested parties, including:
- individual members of the public;
- business and industry associations;
- non-governmental environmental organizations;
- vehicle emissions testing facility owners;
- safety inspection station owner; and
- transit associations.
Below is a brief summary of the comments received and how we considered them.
Concerns about the loss of public participation rights
We will continue to work with the Ministry of Transportation on the design of the new integrated program and the legal changes that need to occur in order to successfully integrate. Consideration will be given to making the applicable regulatory amendments prescribed under the Environmental Bill of Rights to ensure that regulatory changes with environmental impacts related to motor vehicle emission testing would be posted on the Environmental Registry for a public comment period.
Concerns about loss of environmental protection
We will continue to work with the Ministry of Transportation to ensure that the emissions inspection component remains effective and is targeted to reduce emissions from the most polluting vehicles on Ontario’s roads.
Other comments
We received several comments supporting the changes.
We also received questions, comments, and recommendations related to the design of the integrated vehicle safety and emissions inspection program. We will consider these comments in the design of the new program.
We will be posting our proposed program design for public comment on the Environmental Registry in 2020.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
Susanne Edwards
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
This proposal notice is part of the proposal for the Better for People, Smarter for Business Act.
This government is taking action to reduce burden for individuals and businesses by proposing to combine Ontario’s mandatory emissions and safety inspection requirements into a single inspection for heavy diesel commercial motor vehicles.
If passed, this action will:
- save taxpayers time and money
- modernize services to make life more convenient for drivers and businesses
- help reduce smog-causing pollutants
Under the integrated program, owners of heavy diesel commercial motor vehicles will be able to get both an emissions and safety inspection at the same time and location.
The proposed amendments will transfer responsibility for vehicle emission inspections and enforcement from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to the Ministry of Transportation by:
- repealing Part III of the Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990. c. E. 19
- transferring the substance of Part III to the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990. c. H. 8
The amendments are proposed to come into force on Proclamation.
Rationale for proposed changes
The proposed legislative amendments will form the foundation for the subsequent regulatory changes. These changes will enable the consolidation of heavy diesel commercial motor vehicle emissions inspections, commercial vehicle safety inspections and associated enforcement activities to be carried out under the Highway Traffic Act.
Analysis of regulatory impact
As the proposed changes involve a transfer of relevant provisions from one Act to another, there are no costs to business or the municipalities, universities, school boards and hospitals sector.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from October 28, 2019
to November 27, 2019
Connect with us
Contact
Susanne Edwards
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
11By email
4By mail
0