As a practitioner of…

As a practitioner of Municipal Class EA’s for the past 20 years and resident of Ontario, I would strongly argue that removing or significantly altering the current MCEA planning process further would not result in efficiencies and would be detrimental to sustainable planning and wise management of resources. Under the current process, the MCEA holds all municipalities to account by 1. requiring consultation with relevant stakeholders, technical agencies and Indigenous Communities, 2. the consideration of alternative solutions if impacts are likely (e.g. taking of private land from a road widening) and 3. the development of suitable mitigation measures, where avoidance isn’t possible. Obtaining approvals “in principal” at the planning stage through the MCEA significantly reduces the time required to obtain key approvals during the detailed design stages and provides impacted members of the public the legislated means to object to potential solutions that may otherwise cause unforeseen harm.

At a minimum, the MCEA requires ALL proponents to adhere to important steps that are in keeping with the spirit of good planning and the reduction of impacts on the province’s natural, socio-economic, and cultural heritage environments. Removing MCEA’s oversight on projects would remove the ability for those most affected by a project to voice their concerns. Keep the MCEA to hold the province’s numerous municipalities accountable to a consistent and defensible planning process.