OntarioPassed43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Bill 154 explained in plain English

New Deal for Toronto Act, 2023

Housing Transportation & Infrastructure Finance & Taxation Economy, Business & Trade

Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.

How This Type of Bill Becomes Law Official source

At a glance

Jurisdiction

Ontario Legislature

Legislature / Parliament

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Session

43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Bill number

Bill 154

Full title

New Deal for Toronto Act, 2023

Current status

Passed

Latest event

Royal Assent received

Last updated

Dec 6, 2023

Sponsor

Peter Bethlenfalvy

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.

Chamber

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Current Stage

Royal Assent received

Latest Activity

Dec 6, 2023

Sponsor

Peter Bethlenfalvy

Plain-language explanation

In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing

Short Version

The New Deal for Toronto Act, 2023 enacts new legislation concerning discussions between the Province and the City of Toronto on key priorities and the redevelopment of Ontario Place, including changes to planning, environmental, and heritage regulations.

What It Means

Bill 154, also known as the New Deal for Toronto Act, 2023, enacts two new acts: the Recovery Through Growth Act (City of Toronto), 2023, and the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, 2023. The first act requires discussions between the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto on topics such as transportation infrastructure (Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway), funding for the Toronto Transit Commission, use of surplus provincial and municipal lands for housing, and financial support for homelessness programs. The second act concerns the redevelopment of Ontario Place, allowing for the vesting of certain real property in the Crown, restricting the City of Toronto's ability to dispose of specific lands, and granting the Minister of Infrastructure powers related to planning and zoning at the Ontario Place site. It also includes exemptions from the Environmental Assessment Act and the Ontario Heritage Act for certain activities and lands related to the Ontario Place Redevelopment Project. The bill also makes consequential amendments to other acts and contains provisions for commencement and repeal.

What This Bill Does

Enacts the Recovery Through Growth Act (City of Toronto), 2023, which mandates discussions between the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto on specified matters.
Enacts the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, 2023, which provides for the vesting of real property in the Crown, modifies certain planning and environmental provisions for the Ontario Place site, and restricts certain City of Toronto powers.
Amends the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, and the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation Act, 2011.
Repeals Schedule 1 of the bill (Recovery Through Growth Act (City of Toronto), 2023) after a specified period.
Makes provisions for the commencement of the Act and its schedules.

Who Is Affected

The Government of Ontario
The City of Toronto
The Minister of Infrastructure
The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
The Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation
Owners of real property at the Ontario Place site
Entities involved in the Ontario Place Redevelopment Project
The public in relation to services and rights of way affected by the Ontario Place Redevelopment Project

Rights, Duties, Or Obligations

The Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto are obligated to discuss specified matters under the Recovery Through Growth Act.
The Crown is obligated to pay compensation for vested real property.
The City of Toronto is restricted from encumbering, selling, or disposing of certain lands at the Ontario Place site.
The Minister of Infrastructure has the power to make orders regarding official plans, zoning, and subdivision control for the Ontario Place site.
The Minister may issue directives to the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation.
Entities must comply with municipal service and right of way access orders issued by the Minister.

Important Dates

The New Deal for Toronto Act, 2023 (main body) comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent (December 6, 2023).
Schedule 1 (Recovery Through Growth Act) comes into force on the day the New Deal for Toronto Act receives Royal Assent.
Section 3 of Schedule 1 comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation.
Schedule 2 (Rebuilding Ontario Place Act) comes into force on the day the New Deal for Toronto Act receives Royal Assent, with some sections coming into force on a later day named by proclamation.
Subsection 23 (2) of the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act comes into force 30 days after Royal Assent.
The Recovery Through Growth Act, 2023 is repealed, with the repeal date to be proclaimed.

Financial Or Tax Impacts

The Crown shall pay compensation for vested real property, to be paid out of money appropriated by the Legislature.
Compensation is based on market value and may be reduced by amounts recoverable by the Crown.
A mechanism is established for determining and paying compensation for vested real property.

Enforcement Or Penalties

Municipal service and right of way access orders may be filed in the Superior Court of Justice and enforced as court orders.
Failure to comply with section 3 of the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act (restrictions on City property) is deemed a contravention, and regulations may address consequences.
Overpayments of compensation to the City of Toronto or other specified entities are debts due to the Crown and recoverable by legal means.

Uncertainties Or Limits

The specific matters for discussion under the Recovery Through Growth Act are subject to regulations for 'other matters'.
The 'vested real property' and the 'Ontario Place site' are defined by prescribed land, the specifics of which are not detailed in the main text of the Act.
The Act allows for extensive regulation-making powers by the Minister and the Lieutenant Governor in Council, which may further define or alter the application of the Act's provisions.
Some provisions come into force on a day to be named by proclamation, meaning their exact commencement date is not yet fixed.
The extent to which the Ontario Heritage Act applies or does not apply to the Ontario Place site can be further specified by regulations.
The specific terms of municipal service and right of way access orders will be determined by the Minister.
The Act contains broad extinguishment of causes of action against the Crown and related parties, with exceptions for aboriginal or treaty rights and specific remedies provided in the Act.

Laws Or Regulations Affected

Recovery Through Growth Act (City of Toronto), 2023

enacted

This act requires the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto to discuss specific matters including the Gardiner Expressway, Don Valley Parkway, TTC funding, surplus land use for housing, and homelessness programs.

Source: Schedule 1

Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, 2023

enacted

This act defines terms related to Ontario Place, allows real property to be vested in the Crown, restricts the City of Toronto from disposing of certain lands, and establishes a compensation framework. It also grants the Minister of Infrastructure powers similar to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing under the Planning Act for the Ontario Place site, exempts certain activities from the Environmental Assessment Act, and modifies the application of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Source: Schedule 2

Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993

amended

An exception is added, stating that the requirements of Part I of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, are deemed not to have applied with respect to the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, 2023.

Source: Section 23 (1)

Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation Act, 2011

amended

A paragraph is repealed and substituted to include carrying out powers, duties, and functions delegated by the Minister under various acts, including the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, 2023.

Source: Section 24

Planning Act

affected

The Minister of Infrastructure is granted powers to amend official plans and exercise powers related to zoning and subdivision control for the Ontario Place site, which need not be consistent with provincial policy statements or conform with provincial plans.

Source: Sections 5, 6, 7

Environmental Assessment Act

affected

Certain undertakings and projects carried out at or related to the Ontario Place site are exempt from the Environmental Assessment Act, provided they further the Ontario Place Redevelopment Project or meet other specified conditions.

Source: Section 9

Ontario Heritage Act

affected

The Ontario Heritage Act does not apply to certain lands, buildings, or structures at the Ontario Place site, as specified in the Act or regulations, although regulations can also specify parts to which the Act does apply.

Source: Section 10

City of Toronto Act, 2006

affected

The City of Toronto's power to prohibit and regulate noise emitted from the Ontario Place site is removed unless authorized by regulation. Additionally, regulations may impose limits or conditions on the City's powers under this Act to facilitate construction at the Ontario Place site.

Source: Sections 11, 12

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 text

Process Snapshot

Step 1

First reading

Nov 27, 2023

Step 2

Second reading

Dec 5, 2023

Step 3

Committee review

Not reached yet

Step 4

Third reading

Dec 5, 2023

Step 5

Royal assent

Dec 6, 2023

Vote Summary

Yes

Abstain

Absent / Other

Final recorded vote

Dec 5, 2023

91 representative positions are recorded in this official snapshot for this vote.

Sponsor

Peter Bethlenfalvy

Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Pickering—Uxbridge

Jurisdiction

Ontario Legislature

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
Amarjot Sandhu MPP	MPP	Brampton West	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Andrew Dowie MPP	MPP	Windsor—Tecumseh	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Anthony Leardi MPP	MPP	Essex	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Billy Pang MPP	MPP	Markham—Unionville	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Brian Saunderson MPP	MPP	Simcoe—Grey	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Christine Hogarth MPP	MPP	Etobicoke—Lakeshore	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Daisy Wai MPP	MPP	Richmond Hill	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Dave Smith MPP	MPP	Peterborough—Kawartha	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
David Smith MPP	MPP	Scarborough Centre	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Dawn Gallagher Murphy MPP	MPP	Newmarket—Aurora	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Deepak Anand MPP	MPP	Mississauga—Malton	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Goldie Ghamari MPP	MPP	Carleton	Independent	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hardeep Singh Grewal MPP	MPP	Brampton East	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Caroline Mulroney MPP	MPP	York—Simcoe	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Charmaine A. Williams MPP	MPP	Brampton Centre	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Donna Skelly MPP	MPP	Flamborough—Glanbrook	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Doug Downey MPP	MPP	Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Ernie Hardeman MPP	MPP	Oxford	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Graham McGregor MPP	MPP	Brampton North	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Graydon Smith MPP	MPP	Parry Sound—Muskoka	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Jill Dunlop MPP	MPP	Simcoe North	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Kevin Holland MPP	MPP	Thunder Bay—Atikokan	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Laurie Scott MPP	MPP	Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Lisa M. Thompson MPP	MPP	Huron—Bruce	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Michael A. Tibollo MPP	MPP	Vaughan—Woodbridge	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Michael Parsa MPP	MPP	Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Michael S. Kerzner MPP	MPP	York Centre	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Mike Harris MPP	MPP	Kitchener—Conestoga	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Neil Lumsden MPP	MPP	Hamilton East—Stoney Creek	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Nina Tangri MPP	MPP	Mississauga—Streetsville	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Nolan Quinn MPP	MPP	Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Paul Calandra MPP	MPP	Markham—Stouffville	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy MPP	MPP	Pickering—Uxbridge	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria MPP	MPP	Brampton South	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho MPP	MPP	Scarborough North	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Rob Flack MPP	MPP	Elgin—Middlesex—London	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Sam Oosterhoff MPP	MPP	Niagara West	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Stan Cho MPP	MPP	Willowdale	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Stephen Crawford MPP	MPP	Oakville	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Stephen Lecce MPP	MPP	King—Vaughan	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Steve Clark MPP	MPP	Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Sylvia Jones MPP	MPP	Dufferin—Caledon	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Todd J. McCarthy MPP	MPP	Durham	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Trevor Jones MPP	MPP	Chatham-Kent—Leamington	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Victor Fedeli MPP	MPP	Nipissing	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Jess Dixon MPP	MPP	Kitchener South—Hespeler	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
John Jordan MPP	MPP	Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
John Yakabuski MPP	MPP	Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Laura Smith MPP	MPP	Thornhill	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Lisa MacLeod MPP	MPP	Nepean	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Lorne Coe MPP	MPP	Whitby	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Matthew Rae MPP	MPP	Perth—Wellington	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Michael D. Ford MPP	MPP	York South—Weston	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Natalie Pierre MPP	MPP	Burlington	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Parm Gill MPP	MPP	Milton	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Patrice Barnes MPP	MPP	Ajax	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Ric Bresee MPP	MPP	Hastings—Lennox and Addington	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Rick Byers MPP	MPP	Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Ross Romano MPP	MPP	Sault Ste. Marie	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Rudy Cuzzetto MPP	MPP	Mississauga—Lakeshore	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Sheref Sabawy MPP	MPP	Mississauga—Erin Mills	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Stéphane Sarrazin MPP	MPP	Glengarry—Prescott—Russell	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Will Bouma MPP	MPP	Brantford—Brant	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Adil Shamji MPP	MPP	Don Valley East	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Bhutila Karpoche MPP	MPP	Parkdale—High Park	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Catherine Fife MPP	MPP	Waterloo	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Chandra Pasma MPP	MPP	Ottawa West—Nepean	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Chris Glover MPP	MPP	Spadina—Fort York	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
France Gélinas MPP	MPP	Nickel Belt	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Guy Bourgouin MPP	MPP	Mushkegowuk—James Bay	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens MPP	MPP	St. Catharines	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Jennifer K. French MPP	MPP	Oshawa	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Jessica Bell MPP	MPP	University—Rosedale	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Jill Andrew MPP	MPP	Toronto—St. Paul's	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Joel Harden MPP	MPP	Ottawa Centre	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
John Fraser MPP	MPP	Ottawa South	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
John Vanthof MPP	MPP	Timiskaming—Cochrane	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Karen McCrimmon MPP	MPP	Kanata—Carleton	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Mary-Margaret McMahon MPP	MPP	Beaches—East York	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Mike Schreiner MPP	MPP	Guelph	Green Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Monique Taylor MPP	MPP	Hamilton Mountain	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Peggy Sattler MPP	MPP	London West	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Sandy Shaw MPP	MPP	Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Sol Mamakwa MPP	MPP	Kiiwetinoong	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Stephanie Bowman MPP	MPP	Don Valley West	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Stephen Blais MPP	MPP	Orléans	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Ted Hsu MPP	MPP	Kingston and the Islands	Ontario Liberal Party	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Terence Kernaghan MPP	MPP	London North Centre	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Teresa J. Armstrong MPP	MPP	London—Fanshawe	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Tom Rakocevic MPP	MPP	Humber River—Black Creek	New Democratic Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Wayne Gates 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