Bill 228, Resource Management and Safety Act, 2024

The proposed Resource Management and Safety Act, 2024 aims to help communities prepare for difficult wildland fire seasons, introduce new methods for managing CO2 emissions, respond to hazardous oil and gas wells in certain circumstances, while increasing land survey services to support growth and development.

The package includes the introduction of a new Act and proposed amendments to three (3) Acts:

1. Forest Fires Prevention Act
2. A new Geologic Carbon Storage Act
3. Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act
4. Surveyors Act

We welcome your thoughts on the following changes proposed under Bill 228, Resource Management and Safety Act, 2024.

Summary of Proposed Notices

Forest Fires Prevention Act

Proposed amendments to the Forest Fires Prevention Act would address the growing risks of wildland fires and modernize the wildland fire program.

To help keep communities safe the Ministry is working with municipalities, Indigenous communities, and industry, to reduce the risks and impacts of wildland fires.

These changes seek to expand prevention and mitigation activities and ensure stronger rules and consequences are in place for those that don’t follow wildland fire laws to reduce the risk of unwanted human-caused wildland fires.

Geologic Carbon Storage Act

Geologic carbon storage, also known as carbon sequestration, is new to Ontario, and we are focused on ensuring it is done responsibly, with measures in place to safeguard people and the environment.

Ontario’s phased approach to enable carbon storage in the province includes the proposed legislative framework for commercial-scale projects included in the proposed Geologic Carbon Storage Act.

Ontario’s approach to regulating and enabling geologic carbon storage encourages sector innovation and creates local jobs while managing emissions and enhancing public safety.

Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act

Proposed amendments would help protect the public and the environment from the hazards of old and aging oil and gas wells.

These changes will allow the ministry to take further action to prevent, decrease, or eliminate a hazard in relation to a well or its associated works in certain limited circumstances of noncompliance in combination with the death, insolvency or bankruptcy of an operator, and where the hazardous well has not been addressed.

Surveyors Act

Proposed amendments would enhance the vital role land surveyors play in the province’s development and growth.

These changes will help attract more surveyors to the profession to support the key role they play in helping ensure access to safe and affordable housing options.

Environmental Registry of Ontario Notices

• Modernizing wildland fire management in Ontario
• Enabling the Development of Commercial-Scale Geologic Carbon Storage in Ontario: The Geologic Carbon Storage Act
• Discussion Paper: Regulating Commercial-Scale Geologic Carbon Storage Projects in Ontario
• Working on wells and associated works without the consent of an operator in limited circumstances to prevent, decrease, or eliminate a hazard to the public or to the environment

Regulatory Registry Postings

• Enabling the Development of Commercial-Scale Geologic Carbon Storage in Ontario: The Geologic Carbon Storage Act
• Discussion Paper: Regulating Commercial-Scale Geologic Carbon Storage Projects in Ontario
• Working on wells and associated works without the consent of an operator in limited circumstances to prevent, decrease, or eliminate a hazard to the public or to the environment
• Attracting new land surveyors to the profession to support Ontario’s housing and infrastructure needs and modernize survey services.