This consultation was open from:
April 17, 2025
to May 17, 2025
Decision summary
Amendments were recently made to the Ontario Heritage Act to provide new and modified tools to improve enforcement and compliance. Once in force, new amendments will also allow for exemptions to archaeological requirements where it could potentially advance a provincial priority.
Decision details
Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 was introduced on May 17, 2025, and received Royal Assent on June 5, 2025. Schedule 7 of Bill 5 made amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) to address matters related to archaeology requirements, including updates to enforcement and compliance tools as well as the introduction of an exemption authority. These changes came into force upon Royal Assent, unless otherwise noted. The amendments to the OHA are as follows:
New exemption authority
- If in the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor in Council the exemption could advance the following provincial priorities: transit, housing, health and long-term care, other infrastructure or such other priorities as may be prescribed, the Lieutenant Governor in Council has the authority to exempt property from:
- any requirements in Part VI of the OHA or in regulation related to Part VI of the OHA; or
- a requirement to conduct an archaeological assessment set out in any other Act or regulation, or instrument under any other Act, other than a provision of the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 or a regulation or instrument made under that Act.
- The exemption authority includes a related immunity provision.
- This new exemption authority will come into force on a future date to be named in a commencement order, following which the ministry may by regulation set out criteria that must be met for a property to be eligible for an exemption.
Expanded inspection authority
- The Minister now has the authority to direct an inspection for the purpose of assessing whether any artifacts or archaeological sites are on any land, or land under water.
- Modifications were made to the existing Powers of Entry for inspectors to capture and reflect the expanded inspection authority.
- Similarly, changes were made to the requirements for the inspector to prepare and submit a report on their inspection to reflect the new authority.
New assessment order authority
- The Minister now has the authority to make an order, subject to conditions, to require an archaeological assessment be undertaken, if the Minister is of the opinion that land, or land under water, in the province may contain an artifact or an archaeological site.
Enhanced powers to seize and direct artifacts and archaeological collections
- The Minister’s existing authority to seize artifacts has been expanded to:
- Provide explicit powers of entry, within reason; and
- Permit the seizure of archaeological collections, in addition to artifacts.
- The Minister’s existing authority to direct the deposit of artifacts has been expanded to permit the Minister to direct that both artifacts and archaeological collections be deposited in a public institution or with an Indigenous community, where they were:
- Taken under the authority of a licence or permit; or
- Taken in contravention of the Act; or
- Seized in the course of an investigation.
Authorizing investigations
- Investigations can now be authorized directly under the OHA
- Details of the new investigative authorities include:
- Minister’s authority to appoint investigators.
- Ability for investigators to obtain a search warrant and conduct investigations for the purpose of investigating offences or potential offences committed under the OHA.
- Details of the investigators’ powers.
- Authorization of searches in exigent circumstances and mandatory production orders for documents or data that may provide evidence of an offence.
New two-year limitations period
- There is now a two-year limitation period identified within the OHA. This is a set period of time for charges to be laid from when an alleged offence first comes to the attention of a provincial offences officer appointed under the Provincial Offences Act.
- The limitations period applies to any offence under the OHA.
New orders to prevent damages
- A court is now authorized to make orders to prevent, eliminate or ameliorate damage connected to the commission of an offence.
No compensation
- In addition to other previously identified legal instruments, regulations and orders made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council do not entitle persons to compensation.
Authority to define additional terms
- The terms “archaeological collection” and “public institution” may be defined in regulation.
Effects of consultation
The new archaeology exemption authority, as well as the government’s process for bringing these changes forward through Bill 5 were the main focus of comments received through the Environmental Registry, by email and in person, with approximately two thirds of submissions providing feedback on these two matters.
Indigenous Consultation:
A concern raised was the need for consultation from Indigenous communities prior to any exemption being made.
Our government acknowledges the importance of protecting Indigenous culture and heritage. As we move forward with new OHA regulatory measures, MCM will continue to work with First Nation leadership and communities to ensure that changes are made in a manner that recognizes and affirms existing Indigenous constitutional rights.
This will include fulfilling constitutional obligations to Indigenous communities (i.e., Duty to Consult) and working with communities to advance the protection and conservation of cultural heritage.
Exemption:
A range of specific concerns were raised with respect to the proposed exemption, which included the following:
- The broad range of provincial priorities that would capture most projects, creating uncertainty over what specific projects would qualify for the exemption.
- Reduced protection and conservation of archaeological sites and unknown burials.
- Potential for job losses within the archaeological consulting sector and for Indigenous communities where members are engaged in archaeology as field liaisons, if exemptions are widely used.
- Potential impacts on municipal decision making, such as the limitations on municipal autonomy. Some submissions questioned how proactive conservation efforts on the part of municipalities might be considered as part of the process for providing exemptions (e.g., existing archaeological management plans).
Comments received through the environmental registry and email will be considered by the government as it moves forward with implementation of the Bill 5, including development of the regulation(s). This includes considering preliminary feedback received through this posting to inform potential criteria that must be met for a property to be eligible for exemption from archaeology requirements.
The Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism (MCM) intends to consult separately in summer 2025 on proposed exemption criteria, requirements and definitions to be set out in regulation. Feedback received through this posting will also inform operational processes to support implementation of these amendments.
Enforcement and Compliance tools:
Submissions expressed support for the amendments to strengthen enforcement and compliance tools under the OHA. Many submissions, including those from Indigenous communities, were generally supportive of the proposed amendment to allow for artifacts and collections to be deposited with Indigenous communities. Some submissions raised questions about the operationalization of this amendment, including the need to consult with communities to determine which community artifacts and/or archaeological collections should be deposited with.
MCM will provide further guidance on and consult on the process for deposit of collections with Indigenous communities.
Current Archaeology Framework:
Some submissions raised broader concerns with Ontario’s current archaeology framework.
While out of scope for this proposal, other operational changes and further regulatory updates will be considered as part of MCM’s ongoing, multi-year Heritage Framework Transformation initiative.
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.
400 University Ave
5th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2R9
Canada
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Heritage Consultation
Original proposal
Proposal details
Schedule 7 of the proposed Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, proposes legislative amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) to update enforcement and compliance with respect to the protection of artifacts and archaeological sites. The schedule also includes a proposed amendment that would allow for the exemption from archaeological requirements where it could potentially advance specified provincial priorities. Further details about the proposed changes are outlined below.
Exemption for property
- The proposed amendments, if passed, would authorize the Lieutenant Governor in Council to exempt property from:
- any requirements in Part VI of the OHA or in regulation related to Part VI of the OHA; or
- a requirement to conduct an archaeological assessment set out in any other Act or regulation, or instrument under any other Act, other than a provision of the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 or a regulation or instrument made under that Act
if in the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor in Council the exemption could advance the following provincial priorities: transit, housing, health and long-term care, other infrastructure or such other priorities as may be prescribed.
- The amendments would include an authority to establish, in regulation, criteria that must be met for a property to be eligible for an exemption. Examples of where a property might not be considered for an exemption could include: former Indian Residential School sites, burials and significant archaeological sites. MCM plans to consult separately on potential criteria for exemptions
- A related immunity provision is also contained within the proposed exemption authority
Expanding existing inspection authorities
- Currently under the OHA, inspection powers are limited to inspecting those individuals who hold an archaeological licence under the OHA, properties on which they are conducting or have conducted an archaeological assessment, laboratories at which artifacts are analysed, licensees' storage buildings and structures or their professional offices
- The proposed amendments, if passed, would allow the Minister to direct an inspection for the purpose of assessing whether any artifacts or archaeological sites are on any land, or land under water
Establishing an authority for the Minister to order that an archaeological assessment be undertaken
- The OHA does not currently provide the Minister an authority to order an archaeological assessment be undertaken
- The proposed amendments, if passed, would enable the Minister to direct that no person shall alter or remove an artifact or any other physical evidence of past human use or activity until a licensed archaeologist has completed an archaeological assessment and provided a report confirming that any archaeological sites that may have been found are of no further cultural heritage value or interest
Enhancing powers to seize and direct artifacts and archaeological collections
- The proposed amendments, if passed, would enhance the Minister’s existing authority to seize artifacts from licensees in contravention of their licence or a person who is not a licensed archaeologist where they are in possession of artifacts. This would include expanding the Minister’s authority to seize and direct artifacts to include archaeological collections
- The proposed amendments, if passed, would also establish the authority for the Minister to direct artifacts and archaeological collections be deposited with public institutions or Indigenous communities
Authorizing investigations
- The OHA does not currently provide for investigative powers. To-date, investigations have relied on authorities within the Provincial Offences Act (POA)
- The proposed amendments, if passed, would add explicit investigative powers. The ability to authorize investigations under the OHA would include:
- Minister’s authority to appoint investigators
- Ability for investigators to obtain a search warrant and conduct investigations for the purpose of investigating offences or potential offences committed under the OHA
- Details of the investigators’ powers
- Authorization of searches in exigent circumstances and mandatory production orders for documents or data that may provide evidence of an offence
Setting out a limitations period
- As the OHA does not currently provide an express limitation period, the current default limitation period under the POA is six months after the date on which the offence was, or is alleged to have been, committed
- The proposed amendments, if passed, would set out a two-year limitation period from when the offence first comes to the attention of a provincial offences officer appointed under the POA
- The limitations period would apply to any offence under the OHA
Orders to prevent damages
- The proposed amendments, if passed, would authorize court orders to prevent, eliminate or ameliorate damage connected to the commission of an offence
Compensation
- The proposed OHA amendments specify that certain instruments, including regulations and orders made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, do not entitle persons to compensation
Regulation making authority related to definitions
- The proposed amendments, if passed, would allow for the terms “archaeological collection” and “public institution” to be defined in regulation
- MCM plans to consult separately on proposed definitions for these terms
Regulatory Impact Assessment
If passed, the proposed amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act resulting from Schedule 7 of the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 would provide enabling authorities assigned to the Minister or Lieutenant Governor in Council. Work is currently underway to analyze possible compliance costs and savings for licenced consultant archaeologists, who are regulated entities under the OHA, and for other impacted stakeholders and individuals that may result from this proposal. To inform this analysis, we encourage you to provide your feedback.
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.
400 University Ave
5th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2R9
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from April 17, 2025
to May 17, 2025
Comments received
Through the registry
491By email
53By mail
0