Ontario Bill 141: Current Status of the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act

As of October 2026, Ontario's Bill 141, the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, 2020, is law, but it isn't in force yet. That means none of its rules apply today. It became law on June 18, 2020, when it received Royal Assent. It will take effect only when the province formally sets a start date, a step called proclamation, which hasn't happened yet.

Many of the Act's details will come from regulations, the detailed rules Ontario is still writing. Below, you'll see what the Act will require once it's proclaimed, who it will affect, and what you can do now to be ready.

Note that this page shares general information, not legal advice.

  • Status as of October 2026: Passed into law, not in force yet
  • Royal Assent: June 18, 2020 (S.O. 2020, c. 8)
  • Start date: Not set yet (regulations still in progress)
  • Latest milestone: AED Foundation of Ontario selected as registry operator, October 2024

Status reviewed October 2026

What Bill 141 is

Bill 141, the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, 2020, is the Ontario law that will create a provincial registry of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). It will also set rules for installing, marking, maintaining, and testing AEDs at designated and public premises. Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Robin Martin introduced it as a private member’s bill in November 2019. It passed Third Reading with all-party support in May 2020.

The goal is faster help in a cardiac emergency. Under the Act, the registrar will notify designated people each time an AED is registered, moved, or removed. The aim is to let 911 dispatchers send callers to the nearest AED while paramedics are on the way.

Why Bill 141 isn’t in force yet

Bill 141 takes effect only once the province proclaims a start date, and as of October 2026, it hasn’t. 

The delay comes down to the regulations still being determined. The Act needs key details answered, such as which places are included, how to register an AED, and what the fines are. Until those details are in place, it can’t start yet.

Bill 141 did pass, and it is law. The date it takes effect is still pending, so nothing under this Act is required of business owners in Ontario today.

Bill 141 milestones:
  • November 18, 2019: First Reading (bill introduced)
  • May 26, 2020: Third Reading (final vote) passed
  • June 18, 2020: Royal Assent (became law as S.O. 2020, c. 8)
  • October 2024: AED Foundation of Ontario selected to build the provincial AED registry
  • October 2026: Awaiting regulations and proclamation

What the Act will require when proclaimed

Once Bill 141 is in force, owners and operators of places that fit the defined criteria will have duties in multiple areas. The coming regulations will fill in specifics, such as exact sign and maintenance standards, so think of this list as a preview of what’s coming, but not exactly a to-do list just yet.

The Act applies to two types of locations: designated premises and public premises. Neither term has been fully defined yet, and both will be set out in the regulations. 

Installation

Owners of these premises will need to make sure AEDs are installed as the regulations require.

Easy access

Each AED will need to be easy to reach, as the regulations will describe.

Signage

Signs will need to show where the AED is. Many owners already do this with clear AED location signs.

Maintenance and testing

Each AED will need to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance and testing guidelines, plus any others the regulations add. Most owners handle this today with regular inspections and timely pad and battery replacements.

Training

Certain people, to be determined in the regulations, will need AED training that meets set guidelines.

Registration

Owners will need to register each AED within 30 days of installing it. AEDs already in place will have 30 days to register from the day this rule takes effect.

Moves and removals

Owners will need to tell the registrar when a registered AED moves or leaves the premises.

The Act also lets the province appoint inspectors and set fines through regulation.

Who will need an AED under Bill 141 in Ontario

Once it’s in force, Bill 141 will require AEDs only at certain premises, and the regulations haven’t named those places yet. That means no one in Ontario has to buy an AED because of this Act today. If you already have an AED at your premises, other duties, such as registration and signage, will apply to you once the Act takes effect.

Because the Act aims to make AEDs easy for the public to reach, busy shared spaces are the likeliest candidates for becoming designated premises. Think of arenas, schools, shopping malls, and community centres. Separate workplace rules, such as the first aid requirements in Ontario Regulation 1101, already apply today and don’t depend on Bill 141.

If your organization keeps AEDs at several Ontario locations, you’ll likely be registering a fleet rather than one device. A single record that covers every site will make that job much simpler. Our AED Management Program sends inspection and expiry reminders for each device, and bulk AED orders come with volume pricing and dedicated support. 

What to do now, before Bill 141 is proclaimed

You don’t have to act yet, but the following practices will make registration simple once the Act takes effect.

  1. Keep registration-ready records. For each AED, note the serial number, model, exact location, and installation date. The AED Foundation of Ontario’s registry already accepts registrations if you’d like to add your AED early.
  2. Get placement and signage right. Mount each AED where people can reach it quickly, and mark the spot clearly. 
  3. Log maintenance and inspections. Record each check, plus every pad and battery replacement with its expiry date.
  4. Check back here. We’ll review this page and update it when anything changes.

If tracking records across devices feels like a lot, we can help. With over 20 years of experience, our team supports Canadian organizations with AED selection, maintenance reminders, and replacement parts to keep your device rescue-ready. 

Contact us for guidance on equipping your premises.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. As of October 2026, Bill 141 is not in force. Ontario enacted it in 2020, but it only takes effect once the province sets a start date. Until a date is set, owners of public spaces have no duties under this Act.

Yes. Bill 141 passed Third Reading on May 26, 2020, with support from all parties, and received Royal Assent on June 18, 2020. Passing a bill and proclaiming it are two separate steps. Its rules will only apply once the province proclaims a start date.

Once the Act is in force, yes, if your AED is at designated premises or public premises. You’ll have 30 days from installation to register it. For an AED that’s already in place on the day the Act takes effect, the 30 days start on that date.

No. AEDs on construction projects fall under a different law. Ontario Regulation 157/25 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) has required them on certain projects since January 1, 2026. 

Ontario hasn’t announced a date. The Act can’t be implemented until its regulations are in place, and those are still being developed. We’ll review this page and update it when the situation changes, so check back for the latest.