Ontario's Regulatory Registry

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Act

Environmental Assessment Act

We are improving processes by exempting certain Crown projects related to provincial parks and conservations reserves from Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) requirements. The exemption comes into force on September 8, 2023. The Ministry has also approved the Project Evaluation Policy (PEP) under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 (PPCRA), which will guide evaluation and related consultation for most exempted projects.

There are no direct compliance costs or new administrative burdens associated with the regulatory amendments to exempt certain Crown projects related to provincial parks and conservation reserves from the EAA. Instead, the evaluation and consultation of these projects by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will be guided by its recently approved PEP under the PPCRA.

  Link to Environmental Registry

20-MECP012

September 13, 2023

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks proposed a regulation to exempt certain Crown projects related to provincial parks and conservation reserves from the requirements of the EAA. Regulation 334 under the EAA has been amended to include this exemption, which comes into force upon filing. These projects have been subject to the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves under the EAA and, in the case of acquisitions, the Public Work Class Environmental Assessment. Most exempted projects will be subject to the Ministry's PEP under the PPCRA, but the new policy would not apply to boundary projects (e.g., establishing or amending the boundary of a provincial park or conservation reserve) or acquisitions of land for provincial parks and conservation reserves, as these activities are already subject to other processes, are low risk or are administrative.

September 8, 2023

Approved