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Ontario Protecting Communities from Wildland Fires and Hazardous Gas Wells

May 27, 2025

Province re-introducing legislation to help communities reduce risks of wildland fires and hazardous oil and gas wells, and enable safe use of carbon storage technology

May 27, 2025

Natural Resources

Table of Contents

  1. Content
  2. Quick Facts
  3. Quotes
  4. Additional Resources
  5. Related Topics

TORONTO — Today, the Ontario government is re-introducing the Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025 that, if passed, would help protect communities from the risk of wildland fires and hazardous oil and gas wells. The legislation would also help attract more land surveyors to the profession to support Ontario’s plan to build more homes and other infrastructure, as well as enable and regulate the use of carbon storage technology.

“We’re focused on protecting Ontario’s long-term prosperity and ensuring our communities are equipped to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “This legislation takes a comprehensive approach to speeding up the building of homes and other critical infrastructure while protecting the environment and public safety. By adopting innovative technologies and cutting red tape, we’re not only creating good jobs and helping industries succeed – we’re ensuring Ontario thrives in a challenging global economy.”

The Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025, includes the following changes:

  • Strengthening community resiliency by modernizing the Forest Fires Prevention Act to enhance wildland fire prevention and preparedness, including new requirements for wildland fire management plans and stricter penalties for those who don’t follow wildland fire laws, to reduce the risk of unwanted human-caused fires.
  • Helping to protect the public and environment from the threat of hazardous oil and gas wells with changes to the Oil, Gas, and Salt Resources Act that would allow the ministry to take immediate action to address hazardous oil and gas wells that pose a public safety risk when an operator is not compliant with a ministry order in certain circumstances, such as death or bankruptcy, and recover costs of any action taken on the well.
  • Supporting rapid infrastructure and housing development needs by proposing to amend the Surveyors Act to enhance the vital role land surveyors play in the province’s development and growth and help attract more surveyors to the profession to support their key role in helping ensure access to safe and affordable housing options.

“This is a challenging time for the forestry sector and for trade-dependent businesses and workers,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. “Prevention efforts to mitigate the risks of unwanted wildland fires are essential to the vitality of our forest industry and those communities who depend on it. By ensuring the long-term health of our forests, we will safeguard jobs, protect critical building materials and enhance the safety and resilience of our communities.”

As part of the Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025, the Ontario government is also proposing a new Geologic Carbon Storage Act, to support innovation and manage carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. If passed, the Act would enable the regulation of commercial-scale geologic carbon storage, which involves injecting captured CO2, that would have otherwise entered the atmosphere, into deep underground rock formations for permanent storage. This advanced technology could help energy-intensive industries cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5 to 7 million tonnes per year, create over 4,000 short-term jobs and reduce carbon costs for Ontario industries by nearly $1 billion a year, all while ensuring public safety.

The ministry will continue to engage with stakeholders and Indigenous communities to develop supporting regulations and revise the proposed framework as industry brings forward commercial-scale project proposals.

“By supporting innovative carbon storage technology, we are enhancing Ontario’s competitiveness, attracting new investment, creating jobs and driving economic growth – positioning the province as a leader in the global market,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources. “Geologic carbon storage offers a significant opportunity for Ontario, and the ministry is dedicated to developing a framework that ensures its safe implementation while safeguarding both people and the environment.”

If the Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025 is passed, the province will continue to engage in consultations and develop necessary regulations to support its implementation.

Quick Facts

  • Ontario’s Forest Fires Prevention Act has not received significant updates since 1999. These proposed amendments would enable the use of more modern enforcement tools.
  • The Surveyors Act has not substantially changed since 1987. Proposed changes would allow companies to leverage technology and other modern business practices to deliver improved services.
  • During the 2024 wildland fire season, which runs from April to October, there were 480 fires and 89,841 hectares of forests burned.
  • According to the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute – an international think tank seeking to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and storage – there were almost 400 carbon capture and storage projects at various stages of development worldwide in 2023 and close to 300 million tonnes of CO2 has already been injected underground.

Quotes

“The Association of Land Surveyors of Ontario is pleased to see the Ministry of Natural Resources’ proposed changes to the Surveyors Act. These changes will modernize and enhance the skilled profession of land surveying in Ontario and allow our organization to continue to advance our mandate of protecting the public. As the demand for safe, affordable housing and infrastructure continues to rise, land surveyors will remain essential in building the future of our province and meeting the demands of a growing economy. I thank the province for their continued support of our profession.”

– Al Jeraj
Executive Director of The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors

“The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada applauds the Ministry of Natural Resources on the continued progress towards enabling commercial-scale geologic storage of carbon in the province. The chemistry sector is transforming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and carbon storage is an essential component. Carbon storage is recognized and supported by the federal government and is operational elsewhere in Canada.”

– Don Fusco
Regional Director, Ontario and Corporate Secretary, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada