Bill 10, Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act, 2025
Chamber
ontario
Stage
Introduced
Ontario's Bill 10 strengthens public safety by targeting drug activity, car theft, sex offender rules, restraining orders, bail, and judicial appointments.
Key Changes
- Creates a new law (Measures Respecting Premises with Illegal Drug Activity Act, 2025) making it an offence for landlords to knowingly allow their property to be used for drug production or trafficking, with fines up to $250,000 for individuals and $1,000,000 for corporations
- Bans possession of electronic motor vehicle theft devices intended for car theft; police can seize these devices without a warrant and they are forfeited to the Crown after 30 days
- Expands who can apply for restraining orders under the Family Law Act and Children's Law Reform Act, allowing third parties to apply on behalf of people who fear for their safety
- Adds voyeurism convictions to Ontario's sex offender registry (Christopher's Law) automatically, without requiring a separate federal court order
- Reforms the provincial judge appointment process, requiring new judges to commit to staying at their assigned court location for five years and updating how candidates are classified and recommended
- Allows Ontario police chiefs to request temporary assistance from police forces in other Canadian provinces, and gives the Inspector General new powers to impose emergency measures on police boards under investigation
Gotchas
- The drug premises law explicitly excludes residences from the closure powers (police cannot shut down a home under this law), but landlords of residential properties can still be charged for knowingly permitting drug activity
- Possession of an electronic car theft device is prohibited but explicitly does not create a provincial offence under the Highway Traffic Act or Provincial Offences Act — meaning the prohibition is enforced through seizure and forfeiture rather than a fine or charge
- The Inspector General can impose interim measures on police board members (including suspension) without prior notice or an opportunity to respond, though affected members can later request a review
- The new drug premises law allows police to recover enforcement costs from convicted landlords, which could create significant financial liability beyond fines
- The judicial appointments reform gives the Attorney General the ability to specify additional criteria for judge candidates, which increases the government's influence over the selection process
- Several schedules come into force only on a future date set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, meaning parts of the law are not yet active and implementation timing is at the government's discretion
Who's Affected
- Landlords and property owners (residential and commercial) where drug activity may occur
- Tenants and subletters who could also be considered 'landlords' under the new drug premises law
- Victims of intimate partner violence seeking restraining orders
- Sex offenders convicted of voyeurism or offences against children
- Persons acting as bail sureties
- Applicants for provincial judge positions in Ontario
- Police services and police boards across Ontario
- Anyone possessing electronic devices that could be used to steal vehicles
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- The drug premises law explicitly excludes residences from the closure powers (police cannot shut down a home under this law), but landlords of residential properties can still be charged for knowingly permitting drug activity
- Possession of an electronic car theft device is prohibited but explicitly does not create a provincial offence under the Highway Traffic Act or Provincial Offences Act — meaning the prohibition is enforced through seizure and forfeiture rather than a fine or charge
- The Inspector General can impose interim measures on police board members (including suspension) without prior notice or an opportunity to respond, though affected members can later request a review
- The new drug premises law allows police to recover enforcement costs from convicted landlords, which could create significant financial liability beyond fines
- The judicial appointments reform gives the Attorney General the ability to specify additional criteria for judge candidates, which increases the government's influence over the selection process
- Several schedules come into force only on a future date set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, meaning parts of the law are not yet active and implementation timing is at the government's discretion
Summary
Bill 10 is an Ontario law that makes changes to eight different provincial laws, all aimed at improving public safety and the justice system. It creates a new law making it illegal for landlords to knowingly allow their properties to be used for drug production or trafficking, bans possession of electronic car theft devices, expands who can apply for restraining orders to protect victims of intimate partner violence, and strengthens the sex offender registry by adding voyeurism convictions and tightening rules for offenders who commit crimes against children. The bill also updates how the bail system works by requiring sureties (people who guarantee a released person will follow bail conditions) to provide information to the government, and allows Crown Attorneys to delegate some of their bail-related duties. Changes to the Courts of Justice Act reform how provincial judges are appointed, including requiring new judges to stay at their assigned court location for at least five years and updating the candidate review process. Additionally, the bill gives police chiefs the ability to request temporary help from police forces in other Canadian provinces, and gives the Inspector General of Policing new powers to impose emergency measures on police boards when the Minister files a complaint. These changes were introduced by the Ontario government to address concerns about drug crime, vehicle theft, domestic violence, and court system efficiency.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
0 responses
Recorded Votes
| Date | Description | Yeas | Nays | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2025 | Third Reading of Bill 10, An Act to enact the Measures Respecting Premises with Illegal Drug Activity Act, 2025 and to amend various Acts with respect to public safety and the justice system. | 74 | 43 | Carried |
| Jun 2, 2025 | Second Reading of Bill 10, An Act to enact the Measures Respecting Premises with Illegal Drug Activity Act, 2025 and to amend various Acts with respect to public safety and the justice system. | 70 | 42 | Carried |