Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025 (No. 2)

RÉSUMÉ DU REGISTRE OFFICIEL

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SCHEDULE 1 CAP AND TRADE CANCELLATION ACT, 2018 The Schedule amends the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018 by repealing sections 3 to 5, which require the Government to establish targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario and for the Minister to prepare a climate change plan and reports in respect of the climate change plan. SCHEDULE 2 CONNECTING CARE ACT, 2019 The Schedule amends the Connecting Care Act, 2019 . The major elements are set out below. The amendments provide that certain assets and revenues of Ontario Health (the “Agency”) do not form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. They also provide that all of the assets and revenues of Ontario Health atHome (the “Service Organization”) do not form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Currently, Ontario Health and Ontario Health atHome are not able to borrow, lend or invest money without the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The amendments repeal this restriction, and instead related financial powers must be exercised under the authority of a by-law approved by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Finance. In addition, certain related financing activities must be co-ordinated and arranged by the Ontario Financing Authority unless the Minister of Finance approves otherwise. Related regulation-making powers are added. SCHEDULE 3 CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES ACT The Schedule amends the Conservation Authorities Act . The Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency is established. Its objects include overseeing conservation authorities and the transition to a regional watershed-based framework for conservation authorities in Ontario. Where the Minister considers it to be in the public interest to do so, the Minister may issue directions to the Agency. The Agency may issue directions to one or more conservation authorities but must first provide the Minister with a copy of the proposed direction, allowing the Minister the opportunity to take specified actions. The Agency is authorized to establish and require the payment of fees and to take steps to recover its costs and expenses. Other provisions include limitations on personal liability for specified persons and the barring of specified proceedings. Regulation-making authorities for both the Lieutenant Governor in Council and the Minister are also added to the Act. SCHEDULE 4 CORPORATIONS INFORMATION ACT The Corporations Information Act is amended by adding a new section 6.1 that would require corporations subject to section 140.2 of the Business Corporations Act to file a return setting out prescribed information regarding individuals with significant control over the corporation. The Minister is permitted to provide all or part of the information to specified persons and regulatory bodies, or to other prescribed persons or entities. SCHEDULE 5 CREDIT UNIONS AND CAISSES POPULAIRES ACT, 2020 The Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act, 2020 is amended to provide for the sale of credit union securities to non-members in certain circumstances. Complementary amendments are made, including amendments to address the voting rights of non-members and the rights of non-members to elect directors and fill vacancies. SCHEDULE 6 EDUCATION ACT Under the Education Act , municipalities are required to levy taxes for school purposes and to remit those taxes to school boards. The Schedule amends section 257.11 of the Act with respect to the calculation of instalment payments. Also, on request by the Minister of Finance, municipalities must provide information returns to the Minister of Finance with respect to the instalments and payments in lieu of taxes for school purposes. A consequential amendment is made to the Assessment Act . SCHEDULE 7 ELECTION ACT Section 9 of the Election Act , which provides for general elections at four-year intervals on the first Thursday in June, is repealed. Consequential amendments are made to the Election Act and other Acts, including the following: 1. The timing of targeted registration programs under section 17.14 of the Election Act is changed. 2. The requirement for a pre-election review, under section 13 of the Fiscal Sustainability, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2019 , is repealed. 3. The prohibition on the publication of certain items before an election period, under paragraph 2 of subsection 8 (3) of the Government Advertising Act, 2004 , is repealed. 4. A section is added to the Legislative Assembly Act providing for no Legislative Assembly to continue for longer than five years. SCHEDULE 8 ELECTION FINANCES ACT The Election Finances Act is amended. Subsection 2 (1) of the Act is amended to provide for the Chief Electoral Officer to conduct investigations and examinations of third parties. Section 7 of the Act is amended to give the Chief Electoral Officer the power to require information from third parties.