OntarioDid not become law (session ended)43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Bill 228 explained in plain English

Resource Management and Safety Act, 2024

Natural Resources & Energy Environment & Climate Public Safety & Security

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 228

Full title

Resource Management and Safety Act, 2024

Current status

Did not become law (session ended)

Latest event

Ordered referred to Standing Committee (Standing Committee on the Interior)

Last updated

Dec 9, 2024

Sponsor

Graydon Smith

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

Ordered referred to Standing Committee (Standing Committee on the Interior)

Latest Activity

Dec 9, 2024

Sponsor

Graydon Smith

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

Bill 228 enacts the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024, renames and amends the Forest Fires Prevention Act to the Wildland Fire Management Act, and makes consequential amendments to other acts, all related to resource management and safety in Ontario.

What It Means

This bill makes changes to laws related to resource management and safety in Ontario. It enacts the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024, which regulates the storage of carbon dioxide underground. It also amends the Forest Fires Prevention Act, changing its name to the Wildland Fire Management Act and updating its provisions related to wildfire prevention and response. Additionally, it amends the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act to align with the new carbon storage regulations and makes changes to the Surveyors Act concerning licensing and professional practice.

What This Bill Does

Enacts the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024, which establishes rules for storing carbon dioxide underground in Ontario.
Changes the title of the Forest Fires Prevention Act to the Wildland Fire Management Act and updates its provisions.
Amends the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act to align with the new carbon storage regulations.
Amends the Surveyors Act to update licensing and professional practice rules.

Who Is Affected

Individuals and corporations involved in carbon dioxide storage.
Individuals and organizations involved in wildfire prevention and management.
Surveyors and individuals involved in land surveying.
Operators of oil, gas, and salt resources.
The public in areas affected by wildfires or carbon storage activities.
Government ministries responsible for natural resources, mines, and land surveying.

Rights, Duties, Or Obligations

Authorization holders must comply with the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024, its regulations, and any orders or authorizations issued under it.
Persons in wildland areas must provide information to wildland fire officers upon request.
Wildland fire officers have the right to enter private land for wildland fire management purposes.
Certain entities must prepare and maintain wildland fire management plans.
The Minister may order remediation or administrative penalties for contraventions of the Wildland Fire Management Act.
Operators of oil, gas, and salt resource works may be required to pay costs for actions taken by the Minister to prevent or eliminate hazards.

Important Dates

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent, except as otherwise provided.
Specific schedules and provisions come into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Financial Or Tax Impacts

Establishes the Carbon Storage Stewardship Fund, into which authorization holders and other prescribed persons must pay money.
Allows for the charging of amounts to the Fund and payment out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for specific purposes related to carbon storage site closure and fund administration.
Allows the Minister to recover costs for actions taken to prevent or eliminate hazards related to oil, gas, and salt resource works from operators or their security.

Enforcement Or Penalties

The Wildland Fire Management Act introduces remediation orders and administrative penalties for contraventions.
The Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024 establishes offences and penalties for contravening its provisions, including fines and imprisonment for individuals, and fines for corporations.
The Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act allows the Minister to recover costs from operators for actions taken to address hazards.
Enforcement officers and inspectors are appointed under the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024 with powers to inspect, seize, and enforce compliance.

Uncertainties Or Limits

The precise details regarding prescribed areas, activities, entities, and amounts for various provisions under the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024 and the Wildland Fire Management Act will be specified in regulations.
The commencement date for specific schedules and provisions of the Act is subject to proclamation by the Lieutenant Governor.
The bill does not specify the exact amounts of administrative penalties or the specific circumstances for their imposition, which will be detailed in regulations.

Laws Or Regulations Affected

Forest Fires Prevention Act

amends

The title of the Act is changed to the Wildland Fire Management Act. The terms 'forest fire' and 'forest area' are replaced with 'wildland fire' and 'wildland area' respectively. New provisions are added regarding the appointment of officers, issuance of permits for outdoor fires, requirements for wildland fire management plans, and the Minister's powers concerning wildland fire emergency areas. It also introduces new penalties, including remediation orders and administrative penalties, and updates regulations related to the Lieutenant Governor in Council's authority.

Source: SCHEDULE 1

Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024

enacts

This new Act regulates the storage of carbon dioxide underground in Ontario. It covers definitions, ownership of pore space, issuance of permits and licences, operation and closure of carbon storage sites, reviews and appeals, enforcement measures, and establishes the Carbon Storage Stewardship Fund.

Source: SCHEDULE 2

Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act

amends

The Act is amended to exclude wells used for activities prohibited under the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024, or prohibited except under a permit issued under that Act, from the definition of a 'well'. It also makes transitional amendments related to the enactment of the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2024.

Source: SCHEDULE 2, PART IX and SCHEDULE 3

Surveyors Act

amends

Introduces limited and temporary licences in addition to regular licences. Clarifies that requirements for licences and certificates, such as examinations and academic/experience requirements, will be set by by-laws. Repeals the Fees Mediation Committee. Allows for electronic service of documents. Modifies rules regarding the election of council members, the powers of the Registrar and committees, and the process for licence cancellation and reinstatement.

Source: SCHEDULE 4

Provincial Offences Act

amends

The definition of 'justice' in the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act is updated to refer to the Provincial Offences Act.

Source: SCHEDULE 3

Conservation Authorities Act

amends

References to the Forest Fires Prevention Act are updated to the Wildland Fire Management Act.

Source: SCHEDULE 1

Mining Act

amends

References to the Forest Fires Prevention Act are updated to the Wildland Fire Management Act.

Source: SCHEDULE 1

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 25, 2024

Step 2

Second reading

Dec 9, 2024

Step 3

Committee review

Dec 9, 2024

Step 4

Third reading

Not reached yet

Step 5

Royal assent

Not reached yet

Vote Summary

Yes

Abstain

Absent / Other

Latest recorded vote

Dec 9, 2024

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

Sponsor

Graydon Smith

Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Parry Sound—Muskoka

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
Adil Shamji MPP	MPP	Don Valley East	Ontario Liberal Party	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Amarjot Sandhu MPP	MPP	Brampton West	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Andrea Hazell MPP	MPP	Scarborough—Guildwood	Ontario Liberal Party	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.
Aris Babikian MPP	MPP	Scarborough—Agincourt	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Bhutila Karpoche MPP	MPP	Parkdale—High Park	New Democratic 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.
Bobbi Ann Brady MPP	MPP	Haldimand—Norfolk	Independent	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Brian Riddell MPP	MPP	Cambridge	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.
Catherine Fife MPP	MPP	Waterloo	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Chandra Pasma MPP	MPP	Ottawa West—Nepean	New Democratic 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.
Effie J. Triantafilopoulos MPP	MPP	Oakville North—Burlington	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
France Gélinas MPP	MPP	Nickel Belt	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Guy Bourgouin MPP	MPP	Mushkegowuk—James Bay	New Democratic Party of Ontario	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. George Pirie MPP	MPP	Timmins	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. Kinga Surma MPP	MPP	Etobicoke Centre	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 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. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta MPP	MPP	Mississauga Centre	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. Stephen Crawford MPP	MPP	Oakville	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. 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. Vijay Thanigasalam MPP	MPP	Scarborough—Rouge Park	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Hon. Zee Hamid MPP	MPP	Milton	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Jeff Burch MPP	MPP	Niagara Centre	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens MPP	MPP	St. Catharines	New Democratic 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.
Jessica Bell MPP	MPP	University—Rosedale	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Jill Andrew MPP	MPP	Toronto—St. Paul's	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Joel Harden MPP	MPP	Ottawa Centre	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
John Fraser MPP	MPP	Ottawa South	Ontario Liberal Party	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 Vanthof MPP	MPP	Timiskaming—Cochrane	New Democratic 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.
Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP	MPP	Toronto Centre	New Democratic 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.
Logan Kanapathi MPP	MPP	Markham—Thornhill	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.
Lucille Collard MPP	MPP	Ottawa—Vanier	Ontario Liberal Party	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Marit Stiles MPP	MPP	Davenport	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Mary-Margaret McMahon MPP	MPP	Beaches—East York	Ontario Liberal Party	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Matthew Rae MPP	MPP	Perth—Wellington	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.
Patrice Barnes MPP	MPP	Ajax	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Peggy Sattler MPP	MPP	London West	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Peter Tabuns MPP	MPP	Toronto—Danforth	New Democratic 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.
Robert Bailey MPP	MPP	Sarnia—Lambton	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Robin Martin MPP	MPP	Eglinton—Lawrence	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.
Sandy Shaw MPP	MPP	Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Sarah Jama MPP	MPP	Hamilton Centre	Independent	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Sheref Sabawy MPP	MPP	Mississauga—Erin Mills	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Sol Mamakwa MPP	MPP	Kiiwetinoong	New Democratic 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.
Stephen Blais MPP	MPP	Orléans	Ontario Liberal Party	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Steve Pinsonneault MPP	MPP	Lambton—Kent—Middlesex	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Ted Hsu MPP	MPP	Kingston and the Islands	Ontario Liberal Party	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Terence Kernaghan MPP	MPP	London North Centre	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Teresa J. Armstrong MPP	MPP	London—Fanshawe	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Tom Rakocevic MPP	MPP	Humber River—Black Creek	New Democratic Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Tyler Allsopp MPP	MPP	Bay of Quinte	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Vincent Ke MPP	MPP	Don Valley North	Independent	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Will Bouma MPP	MPP	Brantford—Brant	Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario	Yes	Recorded without an additional note.
Aislinn Clancy MPP	MPP	Kitchener Centre	Green Party of Ontario	No	Recorded without an additional note.
Mike Schreiner MPP	MPP	Guelph	Green 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