Ontario government’s newly proposed bill attacks municipal autonomy

Tkaronto — Today, the Ontario provincial government released the so-called “Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act”. The proposed bill attempts to limit the powers of municipalities to supposedly speed up construction. The government, in a posting to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO), states it is a follow-up to previous legislation passed in June 2025, the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 (Bill 17). 

About the newly proposed legislation, Stand.earth’s Climate Campaigner Lana Goldberg says:

“This looks like yet another bill written by big developers who don’t want to follow local green building rules meant to make homes safer  and our communities more resilient.” 

Over a dozen Ontario municipalities have adopted what are referred to as Green Development Standards to ensure that new homes are safe, weather-proof, and future-ready. The Standards are meant to encourage modern, green designs which make homes more comfortable for residents and create sustainable communities. A poll released today by the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) found that a vast majority of people in Toronto, for example, support local green building policies. 

With the adoption of Bill 17 — the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act — in the summer, the province had already attempted to dissuade municipalities from using Green Development Standards.

Goldberg continued:

“How many times will the province hit municipalities over the head to serve the interests of its developer buddies? Cities and towns are working hard to ensure that new housing is built responsibly and in line with local contexts. The province needs to stop meddling in local policies and let municipalities serve the needs of our communities.”

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Contact: Lana Goldberg, lana.goldberg@stand.earth