Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Legislative Update | June 27, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of June 23
Crime Bill with Tougher Bail, Sentencing Provisions Coming in Fall: The federal government will table a bill this fall introducing stricter bail conditions and sentencing for some crimes, particularly those involving organized crime, human trafficking, home invasion and car theft. Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the government will “at minimum” implement the crime policies the Liberals promised during the spring federal election. These include making bail more difficult to get for some offences. They also promised tougher sentencing guidelines for repeat car thieves and violent and organized crime, and to allow for consecutive sentencing for some cases of car theft and for serious and violent offences.
Article | June 20, 2025
The Grass is Always Greener: The Limited Lessons of the Toronto Local Appeal Body
The Toronto Local Appeal Body (the “TLAB”) stands as Ontario’s sole local appeals body for planning matters, ruling over appeals of variance and consent decisions from Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment (the “CoA”). Nearly ten years after the TLAB’s inception, the Body has had some successes but remains particularly limited by its role as an administrative tribunal.
Article | June 20, 2025
The Basics of Municipal Service Corporations - A Brief Overview
Municipal service corporations (MSCs) allow municipalities to efficiently deliver key public services by leveraging distinct corporate structures authorized under the Municipal Act, 2001. This article provides a broad overview of MSCs, their governance, benefits, and the legal requirements municipalities must follow when establishing one.
Advocacy | June 11, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of June 9
Legislative Update | June 06, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of June 2
Ford Government Passes Mining Legislation: Bill 5, or the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, passed third reading this week and has been granted royal assent by the lieutenant governor. The legislation will create so-called special economic zones where laws, ranging from municipal approvals to environmental rules or even labour law, won’t apply. At Queen’s Park on Wednesday, cries of protest rang out from the galleries inside the legislature as MPPs voted. Indigenous leaders have vowed to keep fighting against the legislation.
Article | June 04, 2025
Building Faster and Smarter, at Last? Province of Ontario Introduces Bill 17
Amidst economic uncertainty and a trade war, one thing remains constant: the Province of Ontario (the “Province”)’s attempts to boost housing supply. On May 12, 2025, the Province introduced Bill 17, the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025. Currently in its second reading, the Bill, if passed, would make changes to development charges, planning instruments, and provincial infrastructure development. This article explores these changes.
