Bill 17: Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 – Amendment to the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020

The BTFA provides the tools needed for Metrolinx to deliver the current "priority transit projects" under the Act (Ontario Line, Yonge North Subway Extension, Scarborough Subway Extension, Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, Hamilton Light Rail Transit, and the Hazel McCallion Light Rail Transit line extensions) by providing:

• Utility Company Coordination - A framework for enhanced coordination of utility relocations to support better management of project schedule and costs;
• Municipal Service and Right-of-Way Access - An approach to municipal permits and backstop authority to compel access to municipal rights-of-way and services (water, sewer);
• Corridor Development Permits - Requirements for owners of adjacent land and infrastructure to obtain a corridor development permit for construction and development activities that may interfere with transit construction;
• Entering Lands - The ability to enter lands for due diligence work (e.g., soil testing), removal of obstructions and encroachments (e.g., trees), addressing imminent danger, and for the purpose of ensuring that a permit or stop-work order is being complied with; and,
• Land Assembly - A streamlined land assembly process.

The proposed amendment adds a new definition of “provincial transit project” to the BTFA, meaning a “transit project that Metrolinx has authority to carry out.” The definition will continue to encompass projects that were previously defined as priority transit projects. This amendment, if passed, will expand the application of the BTFA to all provincial transit projects without having to name them in the Act or prescribe them via regulatory amendments. Upon Royal Assent, Metrolinx would have immediate access to two of the BTFA measures: Utility Company Coordination and Municipal Service and Right-of-Way Access for all provincial transit projects. The remaining three measures, Corridor Development Permits, Entering Lands, and Land Assembly, will be available to Metrolinx upon designation of transit corridor lands via Order in Council (OIC).  

If the amendment is passed, Ontarians are expected to see more public transit projects built faster. Expanding the number of transit projects under the BTFA will help the government’s plan to build transit faster so people can get where they want to go, when they want to get there, while reducing congestion and driving economic growth. Reducing commuting times and vehicular traffic on our roads will also help reduce greenhouse gases (GHG).  

Key environmental risks from the proposed change are expected to be the same set of risks associated with large-scale public transit construction projects. These may include tree removals, excavation, impacts to waterways, air quality/emissions, vibration and noise pollution, light pollution, and temporary traffic routes in local communities. As additional provincial transit projects are identified, project-specific environmental impacts will be assessed.

Metrolinx maintains the following mitigation strategies for potential environmental impacts:

• Removing trees only when necessary (and outside of bird nesting season) and a commitment to replant more trees than were removed.
• Maintaining an ISO14001 Environmental Management System to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and to drive continuous environmental improvement.
• Using a risk-based approach in identifying significant environmental aspects and ensuring appropriate controls and measures are implemented to mitigate negative environmental impacts.
• Minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and striving towards a net zero carbon footprint through sustained efforts and technological innovation, including decarbonization of its fleet and facilities.
• Use of green building practices, to the extent possible, that embrace the idea of minimizing energy consumption through smart and innovative design choices, use of sustainable materials, renewable energy generation, and technological advancement.