A slate of new regulations and statutes came into effect in Ontario on Canada Day, affecting sectors like housing, health, energy, and more.

The most visible change is a 5.7 cent per litre cut to the gas tax — and a 5.3 cent per litre cut to the fuel tax — that was a central pledge during the PC’s 2022 election campaign. The amendments to the gas tax legislation were passed earlier this year, and didn’t come in until July 1.

Premier Doug Ford also promised a 10 cent cut at the pumps during the 2018 election, but never followed through.

The cut is slated to last the rest of the year, and is expected to cost the government upwards of $600 million.

Energy and environment

The Ontario Water Resources Act is getting a makeover to, according to the government, make it easier to build homes.

“The new regulation removes the need for housing developers and other businesses to obtain an Environmental Compliance Approval for certain low risk sewage works, such as foundation drainage from buildings and construction site dewatering,” reads a provincial government release.

Dewatering is a process used to remove water from solid material. It’s often used on construction sites when digging foundations.

Dewatering regulations have historically been used to prevent the overall water level from falling, and to ensure the dirty water removed from a given construction site isn’t dumped into another body of water where it could harm local species, said Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager at Environmental Defence.

The new regulations make it easier for smaller-scale projects to proceed without government approval, which can help facilitate sprawl, because projects in need of dewatering are often in the outskirts of the GTA near farmlands and wetlands, Pothen said.

Pothen said he’s worried this regulation is using the housing crisis to make life easier for developers.

“We are concerned that a very real need to accelerate the construction of homes in existing neighbourhoods is being connected inappropriately to other kinds of development that aren't really relevant to the housing shortages,” Pothen said.

Another change makes it easier for Ontarians to install and benefit from solar power. Individuals and businesses can now enter into power purchase agreements with third-party providers to install solar panels. This means a company would help pay the upfront costs of installing solar while entering into an agreement with the energy purchaser setting out the cost per month or per kilowatt hour.

When it was first announced in April, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association praised the change.

“These changes will dramatically reduce the up-front cost barrier to the adoption of solar net metering. They signify a major step forward for consumer choice and improved accessibility of renewable energy,” a release said.

Housing

Ontario’s building code just got a rejigging, and it might mean less glass-clad skyscrapers lining city blocks.

As of July 1, developers in Ontario are allowed to use mass timber to build up to 12 storey buildings.

Mass timber is made when various parts of soft woods — usually taken from conifers — are melded together. It’s seen as a more environmentally friendly way to build large buildings, which often opt for more carbon-intensive steel or concrete.

Using mass timber in taller buildings has been growing in popularity since 2015, when Quebec became the first jurisdiction in North America to allow it to be used in buildings up to 12 storeys.

As of 2021, there were nearly 500 completed or in progress mass timber buildings in Canada, according to a 2021 report from Natural Resources Canada

Another change to the building code allows for municipalities to create "building inspector internship programs" meant to fill a shortage in the profession. QP Briefing reached out to the municipal affairs ministry to clarify if there would be any restrictions or regulations put on the internship programs but did not receive a comment before publishing.

Other changes

The government is also adding $50 to the previous maximum of $500/month for the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities program, which provides financial aid to low- and middle-income families caring for a child with a severe disability, as defined by the province. The small bump is meant to help cover the increased cost of personal and direct support workers, whose pandemic pay bump was made permanent through pre-election legislation from the Ford government.

READ MORE: PSW temporary wage increase to be made permanent through legislation

A small amendment to the government’s automobile insurance regulations was a “housekeeping” change to remove an “outdated and unnecessary” reference to old legislation, a spokesperson for the finance minister told QP Briefing.

Emissions tests for vehicles regulated under the environment ministry now fall under the ministry of transportation and a change to the Ontario Water Resources Act will allow for expedited environmental approval for projects "where environmental risks are low," according to the government's release.

Slate of new regulations, statutes now in effect

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