Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act

On October 23, 2025, the Ontario government introduced Bill 60, which officially became law on November 27, 2025. The Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 (the “Act”) is designed as a “legislative toolkit” to reduce red tape, accelerate construction timelines, and support the development of new housing, transportation projects, and other infrastructure across the province.

The Government’s Four Commitments

The government has codified four primary commitments in the Act’s preamble:

1. Speeding up construction of new homes and infrastructure;
2. Moving people and goods faster by accelerating transit delivery and reducing gridlock;
3. Strengthening oversight of the driver’s licensing system, supporting harmonization of road standards, and streamlining processes for the towing industry; and
4. Reducing delays at the LTB to help tenants and landlords reach resolution faster.

Much of the legislative attention has focused on proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, the Planning Act, the Construction Act, and the Development Charges Act. The Act operates like a legislative toolkit, making targeted adjustments across various domains to achieve its stated goals of steamlining development. Whether focusing on tightening Landlord and Tenant Board (“LTB”) procedures or removing potential policy roadblocks for municipal and provincial transit projects, the overarching theme is regulatory acceleration, in effect, using specific amendments to clear friction points in the development ecosystem.

Key Changes

1. Residential Tenancy Hearing Streamlined: At an LTB hearing, a tenant must pay half of any claimed rent arrears before the hearing to raise other issues, aiming to reduce last minute-adjournments;
2. “Own Use” Eviction Simplified: Landlords giving at least 120 days’ notice to end a tenancy for their own use are no longer required to compensate the tenant or offer alternative unit;
3. Residency and Legal Status Required: The Minister may require applicants for certain driver’s licenses, permits, or Photo Cards to provide evidence of residency in Ontario and legal status in Canada;
4. New Water Corporations Established: The Bill enacts the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025, allowing the Minister to designate corporation to provide water and sewage services giving the Minister power to approve or refuse their rate plans;
5. Ministerial Planning Authority: Developers and municipalities must recognize that Minister’s decision under the Planning Act (outside of the Greenbelt) are not required to be consistent with provincial policy statements, fundamentally shifting final authority to the Minister; and
6. Towing Fee Reporting Exemption: Tow operators and vehicle storage operators are exempt from reporting the amount charged for a service if a regulation establishes a maximum permissible charge for that service.

The Act represents a significant shift in Ontario’s approach to housing, infrastructure, and regulatory oversight. By concentrating authority, speeding up administrative processes, and reducing procedural barriers across multiple statutes, the legislation aims to create a more predictable and efficient development environment. While the full impact will depend on how these changes are implemented in practice, the Act signals the province intention to prioritize rapid construction, streamlined governance, and faster resolution of disputes across key public systems.