Proposed changes will help get people out of traffic, build more homes and keep costs down for people and businesses
TORONTO — The Ontario government introduced legislation that, if passed, would make it easier and faster to build transit, housing and other critical infrastructure. The Get It Done Act would also help people keep more of their hard-earned money by banning new tolls on provincial highways and give them a veto over any future provincial carbon tax.
“Our government made a promise to get it done,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we’re delivering on that promise. We’re rebuilding our economy with better jobs and bigger paycheques. While previous governments neglected critical infrastructure, we’re getting shovels in the ground to build roads, highways and houses while we keep costs down for people and businesses. We’re getting it done.”
Last week, the government announced its intention to ban new tolls on provincial highways, automate the licence plate renewal process and legislate the current freeze on driver’s licence and Ontario Photo Card fees. The province also announced it would protect people and businesses from the high cost of a provincial carbon tax by requiring the government to first obtain the consent of Ontario voters through a referendum before implementing a new provincial carbon pricing program.
The Ontario government is also moving forward with several other initiatives aimed at streamlining building approvals to get shovels in the ground sooner on roads, highways and public transit, as well as other key infrastructure projects. These initiatives include:
- Declaring the Hazel McCallion Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line Extensions to the downtown Mississauga loop and downtown Brampton as a priority transit project under the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020.
- Moving more projects to a streamlined environmental assessment process that would help get critical infrastructure such as highways, railways and transmission lines built faster to support Ontario’s growing population, while continuing to protect the environment.
- Exploring opportunities to improve the permitting process for mine development and operation to ensure the province’s mining sector remains competitive and attractive to investors.
The government is also proposing amendments to the Official Plan Adjustments Act, 2023 that, if passed, would modify the legislatively approved official plans for some of Ontario’s fastest-growing municipalities to better reflect both local and provincial priorities.