The proposed Protect Ontario…

The proposed Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, suggests that archaeological assessments are holding up development. As an archaeological professional working in the industry for nearly 20 years, archaeological assessments, when done early in the process and completely correctly, are not red tape. A large portion of the problem lies directly with the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism (MCM), who review archaeological reports. Presently, the review backlogs are astoundingly long, where a report can take years to be reviewed. Even when expedited and followed up on, expected review date timelines are not met. The MCM is understaffed and under trained. Very often, frivolous review letters are received by consultant archaeologists that have nothing to do with archaeology. These proposed legislative amendments seem to be smoke and mirrors, in an effort to deflect an issue at the Ministry level.

The proposed Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, states that in order to advance provincial priorities a property may be exempt from archaeological assessments. However, the act states that an exemption can not include former Indian Residential School sites, burials and significant archaeological sites. How will it be possible to find and protect potential burials or significant archaeological sites if the requirement for the archaeological assessment is removed? Burials and significant archaeological sites can be identified, protected and avoided during archaeological assessments. If archaeological assessments are not completed, how do you propose to protect these sites? Who will be responsible when these sites are disturbed by construction activities or destroyed?