The Ontario Society of…

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) supports MECP’s objective to modernize Ontario’s source water protection framework, provided that changes maintain strong risk management, technical accuracy, and public health protection. Engineers remain committed to supporting safe, reliable drinking water and efficient development processes. OSPE recommendations are:

1. Maintaining rigorous technical review processes, especially for vulnerability mapping and delineation.
2. Providing clear provincial guidance and training on prescribed instruments under the new standardized approach.
3. Ensuring SPAs have adequate resources and expertise before assigning them additional approval responsibilities.
4. Applying early commissioning flexibly but cautiously, with strict criteria to ensure no increase in drinking water risk.
5. Requiring timely completion of plan amendments where early commissioning is permitted.
6. Maintaining strong oversight to prevent inconsistencies in how SPAs apply the amended regulations.
7. Enhancing transparency through a modernized but robust consultation practices.