By Heather Sloman, Chair, SVRA Residents' Association

On March 30, the Provincial government introduced Bill 98, the Building Homes

and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026:  https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-44/session-1/bill-98/status. 

This omnibus bill makes changes across housing, municipal planning, transit and infrastructure.  Its overall aim seems to be to limit municipalities’ decision-making powers and to increase provincial override.

During a recent meeting with her, our NDP MPP Jessica Bell emphasized that the Bill is still difficult to decipher because many aspects are legally murky and open to interpretation. Bell also added that it is also impossible to know how the province will use its increased powers, and where it will put its focus.

Removal of City’s Right to Require New Buildings to Adhere to Green Standards

One key provision is Schedule 1 of Bill 98, which appears to prohibit municipalities from requiring green building standards through planning tools. In particular:

• It removes “sustainable design” from site plan control

• It limits municipalities can require through site plan

• It makes green building standards voluntary rather than mandatory

This is widely understood to target programs like the Toronto Green Standard (TGS).

Please note that while the Government of Ontario is undertaking measures to curtail green infrastructure and technology in new builds, the Government of British Columbia is doing the precise opposite; it has introduced the Energy Step Code: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/construction-industry/building-codes-standards/bc-codes/2024-bc-codes/step-codes/energy

Reduction in New Buildings’ Park Dedication Contribution

Bill 98 makes it easier for developers to count encumbered land and privately owned public spaces (POPS) toward their parkland obligations and limits how much control municipalities have over that.

Key changes in the bill:

• Developers can propose land (including encumbered land or POPS) to count toward parkland dedication

• Municipalities have 90 days to decide, or the developer can appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal

• If accepted (or ordered by the Tribunal), that land must count for at least 70% credit toward parkland requirements

• Easements and agreements can be used to secure these spaces, and can be registered on title

Increased Provincial Control Over Public Transit

This includes the power for the provincial government to set fares, to require a single fare system across regions, and to coordinate service between transit agencies. 

While much of this seems long overdue and much needed, Toronto had recently introduced fare capping, which meant that riders would no longer pay a TTC fare after they had travelled a specific number of times in a month.  This was obviously designed to help those most in need and it is now possible that the province could nullify this plan as part of their single-fare system.

https://torontostarreplica.pressreader.com/article/281505052797382

Environmental Defence has highlighted numerous areas of potential harm this Bill may cause:

https://environmentaldefence.ca/2026/04/01/bill-98-ignored-obstacles-to-efficient-housing-deprives-municipalities-of-key-tools/ 

************

To add your comments about Bill 98 to our association's submission to the Standing Committee making a decision about Bill 98 on May 14, please read these and the documents in the Bill 98 item below, and e-mail Heather Sloman by May 11: seatonvillageto@gmail.com 

--------------------------------------------------------