Bill 97 – Area of Employment Official Plan Amendments

The City has adopted two Official Plan Amendments (OPA), OPA 668 and 680, in response to provincial legislative changes made to the Planning Act through Bill 97 (Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023) that amends the definition of “area of employment” and introduces a transition provision for land uses that are excluded from the definition.

The definition of “area of employment” has been amended to narrow the scope of uses that are permitted in these areas. Under the amended definition manufacturing uses, warehousing uses (including uses related to the movement of goods), and research and development in connection with manufacturing are the primary uses permitted within an “area of employment”. Commercial uses, including stand-alone retail and stand-alone office uses, and institutional uses (e.g., schools and day cares) have been explicitly identified as uses not permitted within an “area of employment”.

OPA 668, which was considered and adopted by City Council on July 20, 2023, will introduce new policies to section 4.6 of the Official Plan to authorize lawfully established commercial uses and institutional uses to continue in the City’s Core Employment Areas and General Employment Areas.

OPA 680, which was considered and adopted by City Council on July 25, 2024, will amend various policies in the Official Plan to bring the plan into conformity with the amended definition of “area of employment”. The OPA will, among other things, alter the land use permissions for the City’s Employment Areas.