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ARTICLE · 11 JUNE 2025

Ontario's Bill 40 Proposes Expediting Regulatory Approvals For Energy Infrastructure Projects

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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On June 3, 2025, the Ontario government introduced Bill 40, the Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act, 2025, to expedite regulatory approvals, allowing Ontario...

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Reena Goyal
Reena Goyal
Julia Bayne
Julia Bayne
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On June 3, 2025, the Ontario government introduced Bill 40, the Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act, 2025, to expedite regulatory approvals, allowing Ontario to build and deliver an affordable, secure, reliable and clean energy system and to increase domestic investment in local energy infrastructure projects.

To achieve these objectives, Bill 40 proposes important changes to Ontario's Electricity Act, 1998 and the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998.

Proposed amendments to the Electricity Act, 1998(Electricity Act) include:

  • Expanding the purposes of the Electricity Act to include supporting economic growth and the development of low-carbon hydrogen in a manner consistent with government policies. The Independent Electricity System Operator's objectives would also be amended to include supporting economic growth (Electricity Act, section 1 and subsection 6(1)).

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