Ontario One Call (OOC) is a Public Safety Administrative Authority with a legislated public safety mandate. The organization is responsible for administering the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012 and its regulation, which includes operating a locate notification system and educating the industry and the public on safe digging. From centralized portals and emergency support to compliance tools and awareness campaigns, the system is built to prevent damage and protect lives.
To fulfill its mandate, the organization has dedicated significant resources to strengthen its technology and digital capabilities, improve its services, expand its safety promotion efforts and enhance its regulatory functions. The result has led to an organizational transformation, delivering greater value to stakeholders and creating a higher level of trust, credibility and reliability.
As a Public Safety Administrative Authority, Ontario One Call is required to operate on a cost recovery basis. A new business model is essential in order to meet its obligation and for the organization’s long-term financial stability.
Summary of Cost Recovery Model Consultation Stakeholder Feedback
From September 3rd to October 10th, 2025, OOC consulted with stakeholders on its fee proposals. During the 38-day period, OOC conducted two public webinars attended by 190 different stakeholders that included Question & Answer sessions to address feedback directly. OOC also solicited the advice of its Stakeholder Advisory Council, a committee of industry stakeholders that advises OOC on major strategic initiatives related to its public safety mandate. In addition, OOC provided an on-line comment submission tool so that stakeholders and the public could provide feedback on the fee proposals during the consultation period.
Throughout the consultation process, OOC received feedback from 32 stakeholders, including municipalities, utilities, excavators, and industry associations. Overall, stakeholders expressed broad support for OOC’s fee change and the cost recovery principles, recognizing the need for a fair, transparent, and sustainable funding model that reflects OOC’s expanded role as a Public Safety Administrative Authority. The input covered a range of topics that can be summarized into the following five themes:
- Support for procedural fairness and transparency in the model’s design;
- The need for stratified annual fees to reflect organizational size and capacity;
- Perspectives on excavator fees and potential alternative approaches;
- Continued emphasis on value for money and accountability; and
- The importance of maintaining strong oversight, enforcement, and safety outcomes.
Next Steps
Input from across the sector will be considered as final fee proposals and implementation details are developed for approval by OOC’s Board of Directors.
Any final decision of new fees will be made at least 60 days prior to implementation.
Consultation Webinar Recordings
You can find the recordings of the two consultation webinars below.
