Our last
two
updates outlined the proposed amendments to the Planning
Act and the Ontario Municipal Board under Bill 139.
Today, Bill 139 received Royal Assent and came into force as the
Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act,
2017.
While the Act itself came into force today, the Schedules to the
Act (which contain the legislative amendments) come into force on a
day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. There
is currently no firm date for proclamation. Indications from the
Ministry of Municipal Affairs is that proclamation will occur once
the rules and regulations applicable to the new Local Planning
Appeals Tribunal (the "LPAT", which replaces the Ontario
Municipal Board ("OMB")) are finalized. A recent Ministry
press release anticipates that this exercise will be completed in
"spring 2018".