The Ontario government proposed changes to the OUINS Act. These amendments were debated in the Legislature and were passed on December 4, 2024. They are now in effect.These changes are designed to improve the efficiency, safety, and effectiveness of the locate process across Ontario.
Key Highlights
The amendments establish a new process that allows Underground Infrastructure Owners (UIOs) to seek permission from Ontario One Call (OOC) to handle their own locate requests, provided specific criteria are met. This process applies in situations that would otherwise require adherence to Dedicated Locator (DL) requirements. These changes include:
- OOC will evaluate requests based on:
- Safety concerns
- Specialized infrastructure requirements
- Mapping limitations
- Other factors that may be prescribed in regulation by the Minister
- Where a request is approved, UIOs will be required to complete their own locates within 5 or 10 business days depending on whether the work requires standard or advanced locates.
- OOC will issue final decisions within 15 business days, with no right to appeal.
These changes address key stakeholder concerns, offering flexibility and enhancing the DL model for more efficient project management.
Next Steps
Join us at our next Dedicated Locator webinar on January 22, 2025 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm to learn more about these changes and how DL is providing guidance to stakeholders to help implement these changes effectively.
