Comment
In regards to an Archaeological assessment, there needs to progressive controls implemented to allow Municipalities and developers to advance a project , while still maintaining impact controls for a development. Typically developments within sensitive areas or areas of archaeological potential are subject to Site Plan Control. This process provides an effective means of governance and control of developments to ensure orderly development within the policies of not only the Municipality, but other agencies having commenting/ approval authority. To some extent, courtesy and commenting authority have been implemented as a requirement and this needs to be clarified further on what authorities actually have approval/ commenting powers.
To help advance developments through these approvals (in lieu of a Stage 1-2-3 assessment) , a stream lined approach would be to allow a Municipality (in consultation with the MCM) to include wording within a Site Plan Agreement that allows the developer to advance construction activities in an area of Archeological potential under the supervision of a licensed Archaeologist and further that all work would cease in the event that archaeological artifacts were encountered.
Dwayne McNab CBCO
Development Services Manager/ CBO
Supporting links
Submitted March 12, 2026 5:06 PM
Comment on
Heritage Framework Transformation: Proposals related to Ontario’s Archaeology Program, including targeted changes to the Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists
ERO number
026-0216
Comment ID
183559
Commenting on behalf of
Comment status