Ontario Building Safer and Stronger Communities

New legislation supporting safety near supervised consumption sites, introducing new tools to monitor sex offenders and targeting auto theft

NEWS: The Ontario government introduced legislation that, if passed, will help keep streets and communities safe and hold criminals accountable. The Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act includes targeted measures to help support public safety near supervised consumption sites, crack down on auto theft and careless driving, enhance the tools police can use to manage sex offenders, tackle illegal cannabis sales and support access to justice. The government is also exploring measures to improve the collection of bail statistics as part of its ongoing calls for Criminal Code reform.

Building on recent legislation and community safety initiatives, the Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act will, if passed:

  • Carry through on the government’s previously announced commitment to protect children and families by prohibiting the operation of supervised consumption sites within 200 metres of a school, licensed child-care centre or EarlyON Child and Family Centre through the creation of the Community Care and Recovery Act, 2024
  • Require municipalities and local boards to seek provincial approval prior to making or supporting requests for new supervised consumption sites
  • Introduce new penalties for fraud related to vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and further combat careless driving through the Highway Traffic Act
  • Give police services more tools to monitor sex offenders and investigate sex crimes through Christopher’s Law (Sex Offender Registry), 2000 and make individuals with active reporting requirements ineligible from legally changing their name, through the Change of Name Act
  • Support terrorism victims by amending the Limitations Act, 2002 to remove the limitation period for lawsuits under the federal Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act
  • Prohibit advertising and promoting the sale of illegal cannabis through the Cannabis Control Act, 2017

Learn more: Ontario Building Safer and Stronger Communities | Ontario Newsroom