Bill 98 explained in plain English
Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 44th 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 98 amends Ontario laws to remove housing development barriers, standardize transit fares and services, and clarify environmental standards in building and zoning rules.
Bill 98, called the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026, is an Ontario law that amends nine different Acts and creates one new Act. The bill focuses on two main areas: housing development and transit services. On housing and construction, the bill clarifies that environmental protection standards are allowed in building codes and zoning rules. It removes references to "sustainable design" in some planning contexts. It prevents municipalities from requiring owners to install electric vehicle charging equipment in parking facilities. It exempts non-profit retirement homes from development charges. It changes how official plans must be structured and what they must contain. It adjusts rules about minimum lot sizes for residential land and reduces the time for municipalities to respond to property owners offering land for public use. On transportation, the bill creates the Fare Alignment and Seamless Transit Act, which gives the Minister of Transportation power to set fare structures, establish unified payment systems, and set service standards for public transit. It allows Metrolinx (the provincial transit agency) to notify building officials about transit projects and receive assessments without being bound by the Building Code. It changes water utility approval rules so municipalities must consent if certain regulatory criteria are met. The bill also amends rules about water and wastewater corporations to control who can own shares and restricts the transfer of water and sewage assets.
- Creates the Fare Alignment and Seamless Transit Act, 2026, which gives the Minister of Transportation power to establish fare structures, designate transit systems, require unified fare payment systems, and set service standards for public transit in prescribed municipal transit areas.
- Allows the Minister to prescribe geographic zones and require transit systems to pool and share fares according to regulations.
- Requires prescribed transit systems to participate in a unified fare payment system and provide specific service standards on priority routes.
- Requires specialized transit systems serving persons with disabilities to participate in a unified trip booking system and provide cross-boundary transportation to a prescribed distance outside their primary service area.
- Allows the Minister to issue directives requiring municipalities, transit agencies, and passenger transportation systems to provide information, data, contracts, records, and documents.
- Clarifies that environmental standards for protection or conservation are included in building code standards and zoning rules.
- Removes references to 'sustainable design' from the City of Toronto Act and Planning Act.
- Prohibits municipalities from requiring owners to provide electric vehicle charging equipment in parking facilities.
- Repeals section 97.1 of the Municipal Act and section 108.1 of the City of Toronto Act, which dealt with environmental protection by-laws.
- Exempts non-profit retirement home developments from development charges.
- Restructures official plan requirements under the Planning Act to use a standardized format with specific chapters and land use designations.
- Repeals the requirement that official plans contain goals, objectives, and actions related to greenhouse gas mitigation and climate adaptation.
- Changes when protected major transit station areas are exempt from certain planning orders.
- Limits municipalities' ability to set minimum lot sizes for urban residential land outside the Greenbelt.
- Prevents municipalities from imposing certain prescribed requirements in site plan control and development applications.
- Allows property owners more time and appeal rights when offering land for public parks or recreational use.
- Adds a rule that when ordered by the Ontario Land Tribunal to convey land for parks or public recreation, the area is counted toward municipal requirements using a 0.7 factor or larger factor determined by the municipality.
- Amends the Metrolinx Act to allow Metrolinx to notify building officials of transit projects and receive assessments without being bound by the Building Code Act.
- Changes municipal consent rules for water and sewage utilities so that if regulations prescribe criteria, municipalities must consent if the criteria are met.
- Defines new drinking water systems owned by water and wastewater public corporations as municipal drinking water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
- Restricts water and wastewater public corporations to issue shares only to municipalities, Ontario, Canada, or their agents.
- Prohibits transfer of water and wastewater assets unless the board declares the asset is no longer needed for service.
- Sets out detailed rules for transferring assets, liabilities, and employment from municipalities to water and wastewater corporations.
- Allows the Minister to make regulations specifying the legal effect of asset transfers and requiring parties to enter into, modify, or terminate agreements.
- Establishes that Metrolinx and municipalities have immunity from liability for following the Act and regulations.
- Extinguishes certain causes of action against Crown employees, municipalities, and Metrolinx related to actions taken under the new Act.
- Clarifies that the Act does not establish private law rights or duties owed to any person.
- Municipalities and municipal agencies across Ontario
- The City of Toronto specifically (substantial amendments to Toronto-specific legislation)
- Public transit operators and systems (TTC, regional transit authorities, local transit agencies)
- Metrolinx and its subsidiary corporations
- Property developers and building owners
- Non-profit retirement home operators and developers
- Water and wastewater service providers and public corporations
- Persons with disabilities who rely on specialized transit services
- Building officials and inspectors
- The provincial Minister of Transportation
- The provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
- Municipalities providing water and sewage services
- County of Simcoe and its lower-tier municipalities (Bradford West Gwillimbury, Innisfil, New Tecumseth)
- Employees of municipalities who may be transferred to water and wastewater corporations
- Citizens using public transit and water services
- Municipalities and municipal agencies operating prescribed transit systems must ensure compliance with fare structure, unified payment system, and service requirements set out in regulations under the Fare Alignment and Seamless Transit Act.
- All prescribed transit systems must participate in a unified fare payment system within a prescribed timeframe.
- Transit systems in a prescribed geographic zone must share and apportion fares according to regulations.
- Prescribed specialized transit systems must participate in a unified trip booking system and provide transportation for persons with disabilities to a prescribed distance outside their primary service area.
- Municipalities and transit agencies must file reports with the Minister of Transportation demonstrating compliance with transit requirements.
- Municipalities and transit agencies must comply with requests from the Minister for information about services, trips, and fares.
- Municipalities and transit agencies must comply with written directives from the Minister to provide information, data, documents, contracts, records, surveys, and plans.
- Building officials must assess Metrolinx transit project proposals and provide reports within a prescribed period without applying the Building Code Act.
- Building officials must carry out inspections at construction stages when notified by Metrolinx.
- Building officials must provide written opinions on whether building completion requirements would be met.
- Municipal consent is mandatory for water and sewage utilities if prescribed regulatory criteria are met (under amended section 93 of Municipal Act).
- Non-profit retirement home developments are exempt from development charges.
- Municipalities cannot require owners to provide electric vehicle charging equipment in parking facilities.
- Municipalities must use standardized official plan structures with specific chapters and land use designations (under new framework, after transition dates).
- Municipalities cannot require minimum lot sizes for urban residential land outside the Greenbelt greater than the prescribed area.
- Property owners have a right to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal if a municipality has not decided within 90 days whether to accept offered land for public park or recreational use.
- When ordered by the Tribunal to convey land for parks or public recreation, the area counts toward municipal requirements using at least a 0.7 factor.
- Water and wastewater public corporations can only issue shares to municipalities, Ontario, Canada, or their agents.
- Water and wastewater public corporations cannot transfer assets unless their board declares the asset is no longer needed for service.
- Employees transferred from municipalities to water and wastewater corporations maintain continuous employment with the same rights and are not constructively dismissed.
- The Minister may issue directions to municipalities on how to comply with official plan structure requirements.
- June 2, 2026: Date bill received Royal Assent (this is when most provisions came into force)
- January 1, 2028: Transition date for official plan framework for 29 specified municipalities (listed in Schedule 7), after which they must adopt new official plan structure
- January 1, 2029: Transition date for official plan framework for all other planning boards and municipalities not listed for 2028
- Various provisions come into force 'on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council,' meaning those dates are not yet set. These include: parts of Schedule 5 (Metrolinx Act amendments), parts of Schedule 7 (Planning Act amendments related to official plan content and structure), and all of Schedule 9 (Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act amendments)
- For Schedule 8 (Safe Drinking Water Act amendments), the commencement depends on the later of two dates: when section 1 of Schedule 16 to the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 comes into force, or when Bill 98 receives Royal Assent (which has already occurred)
- Non-profit retirement home developments are exempt from development charges, which reduces upfront costs for these projects but reduces revenue for municipalities that collect development charges.
- Property owners no longer have to pay for electric vehicle charging equipment if municipalities try to require it, which may reduce costs for property owners but removes a means for municipalities to promote EV infrastructure.
- The fare apportionment rules require fares collected by one transit system to be shared with other systems in the same zone according to regulations, which will redistribute transit revenue between systems.
- Municipalities must consent to water and sewage utilities if prescribed criteria are met, potentially reducing the ability of municipalities to control or refuse water utility development.
- Water and wastewater corporations may have to make debt payments to municipalities related to transferred capital works, which affects the financial relationship between municipalities and these corporations.
- The bill does not specify whether fare increases, decreases, or restructuring will result, or what the financial impact on riders will be.
- The bill does not specify what the costs will be for municipalities to adopt new official plan structures by the transition dates.
- Metrolinx does not have to pay for obtaining building official assessments and inspections under the new process, but no fee structure is specified in the bill itself.
- The bill does not provide estimates of the cost savings or increases from standardizing official plans or changing zoning rules.
- The bill does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance with its requirements in most cases.
- The bill states that the Minister may issue directives requiring information provision, and municipalities must comply within the specified time, but no specific penalty is stated for failure to comply.
- Building officials have immunity from action for damages for acts done in good faith under the Metrolinx provisions, though municipalities and upper-tier municipalities remain liable for torts.
- The bill states that nothing in the Act or regulations establishes a private law right or duty owing to any person, which may limit remedies for breaches.
- The bill states that no cause of action arises against the Crown, municipalities, municipal agencies, or Metrolinx as a result of the Act, except for judicial review or constitutional remedies.
- The bill states no costs, compensation, or damages are owing for matters related to the Act, and no remedy is available except for judicial review or constitutional remedies.
- The bill states that no proceeding based on the Act can be brought except for judicial review or constitutional remedies.
- No explicit penalty provision is stated for municipalities that fail to meet transit service standards or refuse to share fares as required.
- The bill provides that many specific requirements will be set out in future regulations, which have not yet been written. The actual impact depends on what those regulations will say.
- The specific geographic zones and which transit systems will be 'prescribed' under the Fare Alignment and Seamless Transit Act is not set out in the bill itself but will be determined by regulation.
- The precise minimum lot sizes and other factors to be prescribed for residential land are not specified in the bill.
- Which municipalities will be 'prescribed lower-tier municipalities' exempt from certain planning requirements is not yet determined.
- Which matters will be 'prescribed' as matters municipalities cannot impose requirements respecting is not yet clear.
- The distance that specialized transit systems must travel for persons with disabilities is described as 'prescribed' but not specified in the bill.
- Some Schedules and provisions are stated to come into force 'on a day to be named by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council,' meaning their effective date is not yet determined.
- The bill states that 'if it so provides, a regulation' under certain clauses can be retroactive or apply to existing claims, but it is unclear whether such retroactive regulations will actually be made.
- The bill states that nothing in it establishes a private law right or duty, which may limit the ability of individuals to bring certain types of legal claims, but the practical effect of this limitation is unclear.
- The interaction between the new fare apportionment requirements and existing transit service agreements is not fully detailed in the bill.
- It is unclear how the exemption from building code requirements for Metrolinx projects will interact with municipal requirements in specific cases.
- The bill text does not provide detailed transition rules for municipalities that have already adopted official plans under the old framework.
- The criteria and conditions that regulations will prescribe for water utility consent are not specified, so the actual impact on water utility development is unclear.
A new Ontario law is created that gives the Minister of Transportation authority to establish provincial requirements for transit fares, unified payment systems, service standards, and specialized transit services for persons with disabilities.
Source: Schedule 4
Clarifies that environmental standards for protection or conservation are included in the meaning of municipal by-laws about building construction and demolition.
Source: Schedule 1, sections 1-2
Removes 'sustainable design' references, prohibits requiring electric vehicle charging in parking, repeals section 108.1 on environmental by-laws, and prevents the City from imposing certain prescribed requirements on development.
Source: Schedule 1, section 3-4; Schedule 2
Restructures official plan requirements with standardized chapters and land use designations, repeals greenhouse gas and climate adaptation requirements, limits minimum lot sizes for urban residential land, prohibits requiring EV charging, prevents imposing certain prescribed matters, allows property owners appeal rights for land conveyance decisions, and makes County of Simcoe an upper-tier municipality without planning responsibilities for specific towns.
Source: Schedule 7
Creates a new exemption from development charges for non-profit retirement home developments.
Source: Schedule 3
Establishes a new process allowing Metrolinx to notify building officials about provincial transit projects and receive assessments without being bound by the Building Code Act, provides immunity for building officials acting in good faith, and gives the Minister power to make related regulations.
Source: Schedule 5
Repeals section 97.1 on environmental by-laws. Repeals and remakes section 93 to require that if regulations prescribe criteria for water or sewage utilities, municipalities must provide consent if those criteria are met.
Source: Schedule 1, section 6; Schedule 6
Amends the definition of municipal drinking water system to include systems owned by water and wastewater public corporations. Adds rules for deemed consent when municipal consent is obtained for water utilities under the Municipal Act.
Source: Schedule 8
Restricts share issuance and transfer to municipalities, Ontario, Canada, and their agents. Prohibits transfer of water and sewage assets unless the board declares it is no longer needed. Sets out detailed rules for transferring assets and employment from municipalities to these corporations, provides for employee continuity, and gives the Minister broad power to make regulations about legal effects and agreements.
Source: Schedule 9
Section 10 of Schedule 2 is repealed, likely removing provisions that are superseded by this bill.
Source: Schedule 1, section 5
Two subsections are repealed, indicating this bill replaces or overrides certain provisions from that 2024 Act.
Source: Schedule 7, section 15
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 | Scarborough—Agincourt | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Algoma—Manitoulin | 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 | Markham—Unionville | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
| MPP | Haldimand—Norfolk | Independent | 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 | MPP | Peterborough—Kawartha | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Scarborough Centre | 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 | Oakville North—Burlington | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Carleton | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | 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 | Brampton Centre | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Elgin—Middlesex—London | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Niagara West | 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 | 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 | Milton | 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 | Wellington—Halton Hills | 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 | 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 | Eglinton—Lawrence | 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 | Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Hastings—Lennox and Addington | 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 | Mississauga East—Cooksville | 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 | Lambton—Kent—Middlesex | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Yes | Recorded without an additional note. | |
| MPP | Bay of Quinte | 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 | Parkdale—High Park | New Democratic Party of Ontario | 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 | Mushkegowuk—James Bay | New Democratic Party of Ontario | No | Recorded without an additional note. | |
MPP | MPP | Sudbury | 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 | 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 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 | Don Valley North | 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 | Ottawa—Vanier | Ontario Liberal Party | 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 | Guelph | Green 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 | Ajax | Ontario Liberal Party | No | Recorded without an additional note. |
MPP | MPP | Hamilton Centre | 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 | 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 | Nepean | Ontario Liberal Party | 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