Further to City of…

Further to City of Mississauga comments sent in May, 2023, the following comments and recommendations are provided on the proposed natural heritage policies:

The proposed changes to the natural heritage planning framework may have the effect of potentially weakening protections for natural heritage features, which will no longer be identified and protected for in Provincial planning instruments. Instead, it will be the responsibility of municipalities to identify natural heritage features based on evaluation criteria that will be established by the Province. Generally, changes can more easily be made to municipal planning policy, and there is more recourse for challenge than is the case with policies and mapping contained in provincial planning instruments.

Municipalities will need support for training and resources in order to fulfil the new responsibility of mapping natural heritage features. Currently, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and Conservation Authorities provide technical environmental expertise related to the natural heritage system.

At a minimum, the proposed PPS, 2023 should ensure that strong protections be granted for natural heritage features when they are identified in accordance with provincial guidelines.