Ontario – Ontario introduced the Improving Real Estate Management Act, 2023, that, if passed, would allow the government to better manage and oversee real estate more cost-effectively and efficiently, which could create opportunities, such as the sale of surplus properties, to better support government priorities like building more housing and long-term care. If passed, the legislation would remove and/or modify an organization’s realty authority in whole, through full centralization, or in part, through a tailored approach, as follows:
Full Centralization of Realty Authority
The province is proposing changes that would, if passed, create a framework to remove and/or modify four organizations’ and one proposed organization’s ability to deal with real property, if prescribed, and to provide the Minister of Infrastructure with control of real property previously under the control of these organizations. The four organizations and one proposed organization impacted by these proposed changes are:
- Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario)
- Ontario Health
- The Centennial Centre of Science and Technology (Ontario Science Centre)
- Niagara Escarpment Commission
- The proposed Ontario Health atHome
Realignment of Realty Authority through a Tailored Approach
The province is proposing legislative changes that would realign the realty authority for six organizations. This approach would prohibit these organizations from undertaking specific realty activities and/or require that they obtain necessary government or ministerial approval and/or comply with regulatory requirements, if required, to acquire or dispose of freehold real property. The six organizations impacted by these proposed changes are:
- McMichael Canadian Art Collection
- Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre Corporation
- Ottawa Convention Centre Corporation
- The Royal Ontario Museum
- Science North
- Algonquin Forestry Authority
If passed, the proposed legislation builds, in part, on a framework created through the Reducing Inefficiencies Act (Infrastructure Statute Law Amendments), 2023.