Act
2022-2024 Review of the Keeping Ontario Open for Business Act, 2022
Regulation Number(s):
N/A
Instrument Type:
Act
Bill or Act:
Keeping Ontario Open for Business Act, 2022
Summary of Proposal:
The Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN) is seeking feedback on the Keeping Ontario Open for Business Act, 2022 (KOOBA) as part of the legislatively required review of the Act.
The Act received Royal Assent on April 14, 2022. It was introduced to better enable the province to effectively respond to future disruptions to transportation infrastructure critical to supporting international trade without declaring an emergency and to prevent economic disruption and maintain investor confidence in Ontario.
The Act makes it illegal to impede or assist someone to impede protected transportation infrastructure as defined in the Act, if the impediment has, or is reasonably expected to have, the effect of "disrupting ordinary economic activity or interfering with the safety, health or well-being of members of the public". Protected transportation infrastructure is defined to mean:
(a) any land or water border crossing point between Ontario and the United States
(b) international airports that are listed in the regulations under the Act, and
(c) other transportation infrastructure of significance to international trade that is listed in the regulations under the Act;
No regulations have been filed under the Act; thus no international airports or other transportation infrastructure have been prescribed to date.
It also gives police officers and officers appointed under section 223 of the Highway Traffic Act, as well as the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, tools to deal with these impediments, including powers related to license seizure and plate suspensions.
At this time, the Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN) is requesting public and stakeholder input with respect to the implementation of the Act, including feedback on the use of police powers under the Act between the period of April 2022 to March 2024.
For more detail on the prohibitions and powers under the Act, please see the attached.
The Act received Royal Assent on April 14, 2022. It was introduced to better enable the province to effectively respond to future disruptions to transportation infrastructure critical to supporting international trade without declaring an emergency and to prevent economic disruption and maintain investor confidence in Ontario.
The Act makes it illegal to impede or assist someone to impede protected transportation infrastructure as defined in the Act, if the impediment has, or is reasonably expected to have, the effect of "disrupting ordinary economic activity or interfering with the safety, health or well-being of members of the public". Protected transportation infrastructure is defined to mean:
(a) any land or water border crossing point between Ontario and the United States
(b) international airports that are listed in the regulations under the Act, and
(c) other transportation infrastructure of significance to international trade that is listed in the regulations under the Act;
No regulations have been filed under the Act; thus no international airports or other transportation infrastructure have been prescribed to date.
It also gives police officers and officers appointed under section 223 of the Highway Traffic Act, as well as the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, tools to deal with these impediments, including powers related to license seizure and plate suspensions.
At this time, the Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN) is requesting public and stakeholder input with respect to the implementation of the Act, including feedback on the use of police powers under the Act between the period of April 2022 to March 2024.
For more detail on the prohibitions and powers under the Act, please see the attached.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The review of KOOBA will have no direct compliance costs or administrative impacts to any regulated stakeholders.
Further Information:
Overview of the Keeping Ontario Open for Business Act, 2022
Proposal Number:
24-SOLGEN019
Posting Date:
October 15, 2024
Comments Due Date:
November 28, 2024
Contact Address:
Ministry of the Solicitor General
Strategic Policy Division
25 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1Y6
Strategic Policy Division
25 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1Y6