Bill 151 explained in plain English
Improving Real Estate Management Act, 2024
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill 151 restricts how certain Ontario public agencies and corporations can buy and sell real property by requiring government approval for many transactions and prohibiting others entirely.
Bill 151 changes the rules for how certain Ontario government-related organizations can buy and sell land and buildings. The bill applies to various organizations including museum, convention centres, scientific centres, and health agencies. The main changes are: For some organizations, real property purchases now require approval from either the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry or the Lieutenant Governor in Council (the Cabinet). These restrictions apply to: - Algonquin Forestry Authority (needs Minister approval to buy or sell land) - Royal Ontario Museum (needs Cabinet approval to buy; needs Cabinet approval and must follow any regulations to sell) - Science North Centre and Board (need Cabinet approval to buy; cannot sell) For other organizations, the bill completely blocks them from buying and/or selling real property: - McMichael Canadian Art Collection Corporation (cannot sell land, but can buy with Cabinet approval) - Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre Corporation (cannot buy or sell) - Ottawa Convention Centre Corporation (cannot buy or sell) For four other organizations, the bill makes their real property activities subject to additional restrictions under section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011: - Centennial Centre of Science and Technology - Connecting Care Act Agency - Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Commission - Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion The bill comes into force on a date to be set by the Lieutenant Governor through proclamation.
- Amends the Algonquin Forestry Authority Act to require Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry approval before the Authority can buy or sell freehold land
- Amends the McMichael Canadian Art Collection Act to allow the Corporation to buy land only with Cabinet approval, and completely prohibits selling freehold land
- Amends the Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre Corporation Act to completely prohibit buying or selling freehold land
- Amends the Ottawa Convention Centre Corporation Act to completely prohibit buying or selling freehold land
- Amends the Royal Ontario Museum Act to require Cabinet approval to buy freehold land, and require Cabinet approval plus compliance with any regulations to sell freehold land
- Amends the Science North Act to require Cabinet approval to buy freehold land and completely prohibit selling freehold land
- Amends the Centennial Centre of Science and Technology Act to make its real property activities subject to limits in section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
- Amends the Connecting Care Act, 2019 to make the Agency's powers subject to limits in section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
- Amends the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act to make the Commission's powers subject to limits in section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
- Amends the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion Act, 2007 to make the Corporation's powers subject to limits in section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
- Creates a regulation-making power allowing the Lieutenant Governor in Council to set conditions for the Royal Ontario Museum's disposal of freehold land
- Includes a coordination provision with Bill 135 (Convenient Care at Home Act, 2023) regarding the Connecting Care Act amendments
- Algonquin Forestry Authority - must obtain Minister approval for land transactions
- McMichael Canadian Art Collection Corporation - restricted in ability to sell land
- Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre Corporation - prohibited from buying or selling land
- Ottawa Convention Centre Corporation - prohibited from buying or selling land
- Royal Ontario Museum - must obtain Cabinet approval for land purchases and sales
- Science North Centre and Board - must obtain Cabinet approval for land purchases, prohibited from selling
- Centennial Centre of Science and Technology - operations subject to infrastructure limits
- Health organizations under the Connecting Care Act, 2019 - powers subject to infrastructure limits
- Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Commission - powers subject to infrastructure limits
- Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion - powers subject to infrastructure limits
- Provincial government - gains control over major real property transactions by these organizations through approval requirements
- Algonquin Forestry Authority must obtain approval from the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry before acquiring or disposing of freehold land
- McMichael Canadian Art Collection Corporation must obtain Cabinet approval before acquiring freehold land
- McMichael Canadian Art Collection Corporation is prohibited from disposing of freehold land
- Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre Corporation is prohibited from acquiring or disposing of freehold land
- Ottawa Convention Centre Corporation is prohibited from acquiring or disposing of freehold land
- Royal Ontario Museum must obtain Cabinet approval before acquiring freehold land
- Royal Ontario Museum must obtain Cabinet approval before disposing of freehold land
- Royal Ontario Museum must comply with any regulations made by Cabinet regarding conditions for disposing of freehold land
- Science North Centre and Board must obtain Cabinet approval before acquiring freehold land
- Science North Centre and Board are prohibited from disposing of freehold land
- Centennial Centre of Science and Technology's real property activities are subject to limits under section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
- Connecting Care Act Agency's powers are limited by section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
- Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Commission's powers are limited by section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
- Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion's powers are limited by section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
- Royal Assent received: April 25, 2024
- Bill enacted as Chapter 7 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2024
- Commencement: The Act comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor (not yet specified)
- The bill does not explicitly specify financial costs, savings, or tax impacts. Restrictions on land sales by some organizations (such as the convention centres and Science North) may affect their ability to raise funds from property sales.
- The bill does not specify penalties for violations. Enforcement and penalties would likely fall under the existing enforcement mechanisms of each amended statute.
- The bill references section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011 but does not provide the full text of this provision. The practical effect of these references depends on what section 11.0.1 actually contains and how it is interpreted.
- The commencement date is not specified in the bill - it will be set by proclamation by the Lieutenant Governor, which may not have occurred yet.
- The bill does not define what 'freehold interest' means, though this term would be understood under existing property law.
- For the Royal Ontario Museum, the bill allows Cabinet to make regulations about conditions for selling land, but no such regulations are described in the bill.
- Section 11 of the bill contains a coordination provision with Bill 135 (Convenient Care at Home Act, 2023), meaning the practical application depends on whether Bill 135 receives Royal Assent.
- The bill does not specify what 'approval of the Minister' or 'approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council' processes look like or what standards apply to granting or denying such approval.
The Authority must now get approval from the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry before it can buy or sell land
Source: Section 1 of Bill 151, amending Section 10
The Corporation can buy land only with Cabinet approval, but is completely prohibited from selling land
Source: Section 4 of Bill 151, amending Section 7
The Corporation cannot buy or sell land
Source: Section 5 of Bill 151, amending Section 6
The Centre cannot buy or sell land
Source: Section 8 of Bill 151, amending Section 6
The Museum must get Cabinet approval to buy land, and must get Cabinet approval and follow any applicable regulations to sell land. The Cabinet can make regulations about conditions for sales.
Source: Section 9 of Bill 151, amending Section 8
The Centre and Board must get Cabinet approval to buy land, but cannot sell land
Source: Section 10 of Bill 151, amending Section 7
The Centre's real property activities are now subject to limits in section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
Source: Section 2 of Bill 151, amending Section 7
The Agency's general powers are now explicitly limited by section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
Source: Section 3 of Bill 151, repealing and substituting Section 7(1)
The Commission's capacity, rights, powers and privileges are now subject to limits in section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
Source: Section 6 of Bill 151, amending Section 5
The Corporation's general powers are now explicitly limited by section 11.0.1 of the Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011
Source: Section 7 of Bill 151, repealing and substituting Section 7(1)
Section 11.0.1 of this act is referenced in multiple amendments as a limit on the powers of various organizations regarding real property
Source: Sections 2, 3, 6, and 7 of Bill 151
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textProcess Snapshot
Vote Summary
Representative Voting Breakdown
Vote badges include text labels so the table stays readable for everyone, even without color cues alone.
| Representative | Role | Riding | Party | Vote | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPP | Brampton West | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Windsor—Tecumseh | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Essex | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Markham—Unionville | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Cambridge | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Simcoe—Grey | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Etobicoke—Lakeshore | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Richmond Hill | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Newmarket—Aurora | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Mississauga—Malton | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Carleton | Independent | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Brampton East | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Barrie—Innisfil | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | York—Simcoe | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Brampton Centre | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Northumberland—Peterborough South | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Flamborough—Glanbrook | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Etobicoke North | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Oxford | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Timmins | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Brampton North | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Parry Sound—Muskoka | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Kenora—Rainy River | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Simcoe North | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Thunder Bay—Atikokan | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Etobicoke Centre | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Huron—Bruce | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Vaughan—Woodbridge | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | York Centre | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Kitchener—Conestoga | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Hamilton East—Stoney Creek | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Mississauga—Streetsville | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Markham—Stouffville | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Pickering—Uxbridge | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Brampton South | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Scarborough North | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Elgin—Middlesex—London | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Willowdale | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Oakville | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | King—Vaughan | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Dufferin—Caledon | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Durham | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Chatham-Kent—Leamington | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Nipissing | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Scarborough—Rouge Park | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Kitchener South—Hespeler | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Thornhill | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Nepean | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Markham—Thornhill | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Whitby | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Perth—Wellington | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | York South—Weston | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Burlington | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Milton | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Ajax | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Sarnia—Lambton | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Eglinton—Lawrence | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Sault Ste. Marie | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Mississauga—Lakeshore | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Mississauga—Erin Mills | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Glengarry—Prescott—Russell | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Bay of Quinte | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Don Valley North | Independent | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Brantford—Brant | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Don Valley East | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Scarborough—Guildwood | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Waterloo | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Ottawa West—Nepean | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Spadina—Fort York | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Nickel Belt | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Mushkegowuk—James Bay | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Niagara Centre | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | St. Catharines | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Oshawa | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | University—Rosedale | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Ottawa Centre | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Ottawa South | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Timiskaming—Cochrane | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Kanata—Carleton | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Toronto Centre | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Windsor West | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Davenport | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Beaches—East York | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Algoma—Manitoulin | Independent | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Guelph | Green Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Hamilton Mountain | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | London West | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Toronto—Danforth | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Kiiwetinoong | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Don Valley West | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Orléans | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | London North Centre | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | London—Fanshawe | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Humber River—Black Creek | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Niagara Falls | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
How this data is sourced