Summary#
Bill 37, the Fewer Floods, Safer Ontario Act, 2025, would create a new law and amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the Municipal Act, 2001. Its stated goal is to increase public awareness of flooding; it does not require anyone to prevent floods or make flood damage less likely.
- The fourth week of March each year would be proclaimed Flooding Awareness Week.
- The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing would have to publish information on an Ontario government website about flood preparation, prevention and mitigation, public resources, and frequently asked questions.
- The Minister would have to mail that information to every household in a territory without municipal organization each year, before the year ends.
- Toronto’s treasurer and municipal treasurers would have to send materials containing that information with any tax bill they send to taxpayers.
What it means for you#
- Residents: You would have access to the required information on a government website. If you live in a territory without municipal organization, the Minister would have to mail it to your household each year.
- Toronto and other municipal taxpayers: The relevant treasurer would have to send the information with any tax bill sent to you.
- Homeowners and other residents: The bill would not require you to take flood-protection steps, change insurance coverage, or make changes to your property.
- Municipalities and the Minister: They would have new information-publication and distribution duties. The bill does not set out a process for assessing individual properties or responding to flood risks.
Money#
No cost estimate is provided in the supplied material.
- The Minister would have to publish the information and arrange annual mailouts to households in territories without municipal organization.
- Municipal and Toronto treasurers would have to send the information with tax bills. These duties may involve staff, printing, or delivery costs, but no amounts are stated.
- The bill does not set fees, fines, or a new benefit.
What is unclear#
- No publicly available information on the cost is included in the supplied material.
- The bill does not say how often the website information must be updated, how it will be checked, or whether it will be tailored to local flood risks.
- It does not specify the format or delivery method for materials sent with tax bills.
- The bill does not define “fourth week in March.”
- The parent Acts were not supplied, so I could not verify what duties or practices already exist under current law.
Case for#
- A possible argument for the bill is that it would put practical flood information in a central public location.
- Sending materials with tax bills could bring the information directly to taxpayers; mailing it to households in unorganized territories would reach people outside municipal tax-bill distribution.
- A recurring awareness week could provide a regular time to draw attention to flood preparation and prevention.
Case against#
- The bill requires information to be shared, but does not itself provide flood-prevention work, individual advice, or financial help to reduce damage.
- It does not require information to reflect local risks or set rules for keeping it accurate and current.
- The annual mailout and tax-bill materials could cost public bodies money, but the bill includes no estimate or funding details.