On April 14, 2020, Ontario introduced Bill 189, the
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Protection Act, 2020,
which included amendments to the Planning Act authorizing
the Minister to make regulations respecting the calculation of time
for development applications in connection with the emergency
declared under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection
Act (O. Reg 50/20).
Ontario Regulation 149/20, Special Rules Related to the Declared
Emergency (the Regulation), was subsequently released and came into
force on April 15, 2020 which, among other things, overrides
Regulation 73/20 made under the Emergency Management and Civil
Protection Act, which had previously suspended all limitation
periods under any statute, regulation, rule, by-law or order of the
Government, and now permits certain statutory timelines under the
Planning Act and City of Toronto Act, 2006 to
proceed. The Regulation provides municipalities with additional
flexibility during the COVID-19
