This consultation was open from:
May 13, 2025
to June 12, 2025
Decision summary
The government has made legislative changes to the Transit Oriented Communities Act, 2020 through the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 (Bill 17).
Decision details
The Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on May 12, 2025, and received Royal Assent on June 5, 2025.
The government has made legislative changes to the Transit-Oriented Communities Act, 2020 through Schedule 8 of Bill 17, specifically:
Expanded Definition of TOC Projects
Amended the definition to expand the list projects included in the definition of “priority transit project” to allow for more TOC projects to be explored. Streamlining Agreement Approvals
- Remove approval bottlenecks to enter into ancillary agreements with Municipalities by exempting certain agreements from requiring Lieutenant Governor in Council approval when other necessary approvals are already in place.
Effects of consultation
Summary of Comments
20 comments were received prior to Third Reading of the bill on June 3, 2025, including 19 comments submitted directly through the ERO and 1 comment submitted via email. 2 of the submissions specifically addressed the proposal, while the remaining made general comments about land use planning in Ontario.
Most of the comments received were either neutral or supportive of the changes proposed in Schedules 8 and 7 of Bill 17. Some comments were supportive of streamlining the planning and development approvals process and improving timelines. However, a few submissions expressed concerns about some of the changes as described below.
Streamlining Approvals for TOC Agreements:
There was limited feedback regarding the proposed changes to the Transit-Oriented Communities Act, 2020 to exempt certain municipal and ancillary project agreements from requiring Lieutenant Governor in Council approval. The comment emphasized the need for greater clarity on which agreements would be exempt and highlighted the importance of maintaining transparency and municipal engagement in the approval process.
Expanded Definition of Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Projects
The comment received regarding the proposed changes to the Transit-Oriented Communities Act, 2020 to expand the definition of transit-oriented community projects were generally limited and highlighted how expanding the definition of TOCs and streamlining approvals could accelerate development and unlock new opportunities for transit-connected communities, while urging thoughtful oversight to ensure public and environmental interests are protected.
Other Comments
A number of submissions also made comments on the proposals contained in the other schedules of Bill 17, including those related to the Building Code Act (Schedule 1), the Metrolinx Act (Schedule 5) and the Planning Act and City of Toronto Act, 2006 (Schedules 3 and 7). For more information on the consultation planning and zoning amendments (Schedule 3 and Schedule 7), please see ERO posting #025-0461, for information on amendments to the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020 (Schedule 2) please see ERO posting #025-0450).
Effects of the Consultation on this Decision
No changes were made to the proposal as a result of public consultation.
Supporting materials
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Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
777 Bay Street
Suite 425
Toronto,
ON
M5G 2E5
Canada
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Contact
Transit Oriented Communities and Agency Oversight Division
777 Bay Street
Suite 425
Toronto,
ON
M5G 2E5
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
The government is seeking feedback on potential legislative and regulatory changes to help make it easier and faster to build new homes, businesses, and infrastructure like transit, roads, and water and wastewater systems as part of the proposed Bill 5, the proposed Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 and associated regulations. Changing the definition of Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC): The Transit-Oriented Communities Act, 2020, currently defines a TOC project as part of a priority transit project; and located on transit corridor land. This definition excludes transit projects along the GO and LRT networks, reducing opportunities to develop mixed-used communities along these networks. To address this, we are also proposing to expand the scope of a priority transit project under the Act to include provincial transit projects such as TOCs, mirroring the proposed amendments to the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020, led by the Ministry of Transportation. Exempting approvals for municipal agreements and ancillary TOC project agreements: Order In Council approval is required to enter into agreements, which can slow down execution. The proposal would seek to exempt certain agreements from requiring an Order in Council approval when other approvals are in place. Environmental Implications: By implementing the proposed changes, MOI will be accelerating the creation of more TOCs, which in turn would help create high-density, vibrant, mixed-use communities with more housing and jobs near transit stations. The related development and construction of these communities may have a negative impact to the environment, while encouraging people to use public transit in close proximity, which will reduce car dependency, traffic congestion and emissions. Other Opportunities for Consultation: The ministry will be contacting targeted stakeholders including partner ministries and Indigenous communities to advise them of the proposed amendments. |
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.
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from May 13, 2025
to June 12, 2025
Comments received
Through the registry
51By email
11By mail
0