Bill 27, Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025

Summary#

• Bill 27 (Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025) updates Ontario laws on wildfires, geologic carbon storage (storing CO2 underground), hazardous oil and gas works, and surveying.

• Its goals are to modernize wildfire response, enable safe carbon storage to cut emissions, reduce risks from problem wells, and streamline surveying rules.

• Key changes:

  • Renames and updates the Forest Fires Prevention Act as the Wildland Fire Management Act with stronger powers, new permits, and higher penalties.
  • Requires municipalities in fire regions to have yearly wildland fire management plans.
  • Creates the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2025, setting rules for testing, building, running, and closing CO2 storage sites, including permits, safety, monitoring, and enforcement.
  • Clarifies who owns underground “pore space” (the tiny voids that can store CO2) and allows the province to take and manage some pore space rights with set compensation rules.
  • Sets up a Carbon Storage Stewardship Fund paid into by project operators to cover long‑term costs after a site closes.
  • Lets the Minister act to fix hazards at oil and gas works and recover costs.
  • Updates the Surveyors Act to add limited and temporary licences, move requirements into by‑laws, and allow electronic service.

What it means for you#

• Residents and campers

  • During fire season, you may need a fire permit even outside a restricted fire zone. The Minister can extend fire season dates or declare restricted fire zones by order.
  • Officers can order you to put out a fire and may close areas for fire investigations.
  • If asked in a wildland area, you must share basic trip details (name, contact, routes, overnight spots) for safety.
  • Fines for breaking wildfire rules can be high, and officers have more powers to inspect, stop vehicles or boats, and enforce orders.

• Homeowners and landowners

  • Underground pore space is tied to surface ownership unless already reserved. In some mixed Crown/private areas, the province can take pore space rights for carbon storage and vest them in the Crown; compensation will be set by regulation.
  • The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) can let approved project holders enter land (with limits and compensation) to monitor or reduce hazards tied to a carbon storage site.
  • In wildfire emergencies, officers may use private equipment and summon able adults (with set pay rates) to help put out fires.

• Municipalities (in fire regions)

  • Must create, review yearly, and provide on request a wildland fire management plan that meets provincial standards. The Minister can order updates if a plan falls short.
  • May be asked to endorse carbon storage projects in your area before permits are issued.

• Workers and businesses (emitters, energy, construction)

  • Carbon storage projects need permits and licences, must meet safety, monitoring, financial assurance, and insurance rules, and may need Ontario Energy Board input if near gas storage areas.
  • The OLT can issue “unitization” orders to join pore space rights across many owners if a majority agree and non‑consenting owners are fairly compensated.
  • After proper closure and monitoring, the Crown can assume long‑term obligations for a storage site; operators pay into a Stewardship Fund to cover future costs.

• Oil, gas, and well operators

  • The Minister can order actions to fix hazards at works if operators fail to comply or are insolvent; costs can be recovered from the operator or their posted security.

• Surveyors and surveying firms

  • New limited and temporary licences are available. Entry, academic, and experience requirements will be set in by‑laws.
  • Some member confirmations are removed; appeals routes are updated; documents can be served by email or fax.
  • Insurance and reinstatement rules are clarified and may be set by by‑laws.

• Timing

  • Most wildfire changes start January 1, 2026 (some parts later by order). The Geologic Carbon Storage Act starts on a day named by the government.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Modern wildfire tools will help keep people and communities safer, with clearer powers to prevent, control, and investigate fires.
• Requiring municipal fire plans should improve local preparedness and reduce risks and costs from severe fire seasons.
• Carbon storage gives industry a practical way to cut emissions while keeping strong rules on safety, monitoring, and site closure.
• Clear pore space rules and unitization help projects proceed while compensating owners and involving independent tribunals and boards.
• The Stewardship Fund and Crown assumption of post‑closure duties provide long‑term oversight and financial backstops.
• Surveying updates add licensing flexibility and modernize administration (e.g., electronic notices), supporting faster infrastructure and housing delivery.

Opponents' View#

• Allowing the province to take pore space rights by regulation, with compensation set later, may be seen as unfair to property owners.
• Shifting long‑term storage liabilities to the Crown after closure could expose taxpayers to environmental and financial risks if problems arise.
• Expanded wildfire enforcement powers (entry, stops, orders, administrative penalties) may raise privacy and civil‑liberty concerns.
• New municipal planning duties could strain local budgets and staff, especially in smaller communities.
• Carbon storage safety remains debated (leak risks, induced impacts), and project siting near farms, water sources, or gas storage areas could face local opposition.
• Surveyors’ governance changes reduce member voting on some rules, and removing the Fees Mediation Committee may limit recourse on billing disputes.