Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) posting on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO). We understand that, in support of the government’s Housing Supply Action Plan, MMAH is consulting on a province-wide Provincial Planning Statement (“new PPS”) that would adopt certain policies from A Place to Grow (“Growth Plan”) and the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 (“existing PPS”) into a single policy instrument.

The Credit Valley – Toronto and Region – Central Lake Ontario (CTC) Source Protection Region spans more than 10,000 square kilometers and includes thirty-three municipalities within the most densely populated region of the country. The CTC Source Protection Region includes multiple Large and Fast Growing Municipalities as designated under the new PPS. Under the provisions of the Clean Water Act, 2006 the CTC Source Protection Committee is charged with developing and administering a drinking water Source Protection Plan to protect supplies of drinking water against vulnerabilities now and into the future. The CTC Source Protection Committee passed a resolution on May 3rd, 2023, directing staff to “submit comments regarding implications to protecting sources of municipal drinking water as a result of proposed changes to the provincial planning framework.” The comments provided in the attached letter are in accordance with this resolution.

The protection of sources of drinking water is a crucial component that supports the government’s goal of building 1.5 million homes to address the housing crisis. We would like to ensure the proposed changes account for the range of interconnected policies that support the implementation of approved source protection plans. We kindly request the government to ensure that source water protection remains a priority as they contemplate further policy changes to accommodate this important goal.

Please see attached letter for detailed comments.