Province Attacking Guelph in Bill 5 and Bill 17

The province of Ontario is proposing new legislation that will attack Guelph and all municipalities in two new Bills 5 and 17. They would aggressively reduce the City’s ability to protect public health and the environmental wellbeing of our community.

Guelph City Council needs to come out strong and united against the province as it attempts to remove municipal power. Just as Guelph is working on Green Development Standards (GDS) to build a city that is respectful of our economy and our environment, the province wants to take that away.

Bill 5 – Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, would grant the provincial government authority to designate areas where certain provincial and municipal laws, including environmental regulations, may not apply. 

• Exemption from Municipal Bylaws: Designated projects within these zones could be exempt from municipal green development standards and other local regulations.
• Reduced Environmental Oversight: The bill could limit the application of environmental assessments and protections within these zones, potentially impacting local sustainability and climate change initiatives.

This legislation may significantly curtail municipal autonomy in enforcing green development standards, especially within designated special economic zones.

Bill 17 – Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, proposes amendments that would centralize authority over building regulations, effectively limiting municipalities’ ability to enforce their own green development standards. Key provisions include:

• Building Code Supremacy: The bill clarifies that municipalities cannot enact building requirements beyond the Ontario Building Code, thereby restricting local green building initiatives.
• Standardization of Development Approvals: It aims to create uniformity in development processes, which may override municipal policies designed to promote sustainable building practices and fight climate change.

These bills will provide cabinet with permission to ignore all provincial and municipal laws, including those that protect Guelph, farms, forests, wetlands and endangered wildlife.

Restricting Guelph’s ability to create its own green development standards will NOT build housing faster or protect our citizens. 

Green development standards combine the Ontario Building Code and municipal design priorities into a single streamlined document. Toronto has had these standards for more than a decade. Since then, housing starts have grown or stayed consistent nearly every year since they were adopted. That city is now on track to exceed its provincially mandated housing targets.

Limiting cities’ abilities to plan for growth could have a devastating impact on affordability in the long term. It would expose residents and building owners to spiraling energy costs and the increasing impacts of extreme weather and climate change. 

The Toronto Green Standard has been the City’s most successful climate policy and was supported by former Mayor Rob Ford, and by then councillor Doug Ford. That’s why many other cities have adapted Toronto’s standards into their own processes, including Mississauga, Hamilton, Ottawa, Brampton, Markham, and others across Ontario. 

We urge Guelph City Council to make it clear to the premier and cabinet that they must stop the implementation of these bills and let Guelph get on with its own Green Development Standards.

Send email to Council: Premier stop this legislation!

Background

• Let the City know what you think of  Guelph Green Development Standards 
• Ontario Bill 5 Attacks Environmental Law and the Rule of Law
• eMERGE Draft Motion for Guelph City Council

We encourage you to also send emails to the province through organizations like: Environmental Defence and Wildlands League to express your concerns