Skip to main content
Bill 17 Private Member's Bill Royal Assent received

Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025

Sponsored by Rob Flack PC

44th Parliament, Session 1

About this Bill

TL;DR

  • Speeds up planning and environmental approvals for housing and transit projects
  • Reduces scope of environmental assessments for certain projects
  • Weakens some heritage protection and local planning authority
  • Part of broader government effort to address housing supply shortfall

Amends multiple laws to reduce approval timelines for housing, transit, and infrastructure projects across Ontario. Includes changes to municipal planning powers, environmental assessment processes, heritage property protections, and development charge frameworks.

Heritage preservation groups, environmental advocates, and municipalities have raised concerns that the bill further centralises land-use planning authority at the province while reducing local input and environmental review. The government argues the changes are essential to address Ontario's housing supply crisis and infrastructure backlog.

▸ Formal title

An Act to amend various Acts with respect to infrastructure, housing and transit and to revoke a regulation.

Read full bill text on ola.org (opens in new tab)

Legislative Progress

First Reading

May 12, 2025

Second Reading

Jun 2, 2025

Committee

Jun 2, 2025

Report Stage

Jun 2, 2025

Third Reading

Jun 3, 2025 · 82Y 31N

Royal Assent

Jun 5, 2025
Latest vote · Third Reading
2025-06-03 Carried
82
31
82 yeas 31 nays

Party breakdown — Third Reading

PC
70
9 abs
NDP
25
2 abs
LIB
11
3
GRN
2
IND
1
1
Yea Nay
5 cross-party votes

Legislative timeline

First Reading 2025-05-12 · Ordered for Second Reading
First Reading 2025-05-12 · Vote
Carried
Second Reading 2025-05-15 · Debated
Debate adjourned
Second Reading 2025-05-26 · Debated
Debate adjourned
Second Reading 2025-06-02 · Ordered for Third Reading pursuant to the Order of the House
Second Reading 2025-06-02 · Vote
Carried on division
Second Reading 2025-06-02 · Question put
Second Reading 2025-06-02 · Time allocated
Allocation of time 2025-06-02
70 42 Carried
PC
68Y 0N 11A
NDP
0Y 26N 1A
LIB
0Y 14N
GRN
0Y 2N
IND
2Y 0N
View full session →
Pursuant to the Order of the House passed earlier today, 2025-06-02
74 17 Carried
PC
63Y 0N 16A
NDP
0Y 13N 14A
LIB
10Y 2N 2A
GRN
0Y 1N 1A
IND
1Y 1N

⚡ 2 MPPs voted against their party

View full session →
Third Reading 2025-06-03
82 31 Carried
PC
70Y 0N 9A
NDP
0Y 25N 2A
LIB
11Y 3N
GRN
0Y 2N
IND
1Y 1N

⚡ 3 MPPs voted against their party

View full session →
Royal Assent 2025-06-05 · Royal Assent received