This consultation was open from:
May 31, 2017
to September 28, 2017
Decision summary
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has posted a new proposal (ERO # 019-2826) which addresses amendments to its Statement of Environmental Values. Therefore a decision has been made not to proceed with this proposal. This notice is to advise that the posting is closed.
Decision details
Public consultation took place for 120 days between May 31, 2017 and September 28, 2017.
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will be proposing amendments to its Statement of Environmental Values(SEV) in order to reflect the changes in its mandate, to acknowledge the priority of addressing climate change and to add a 5-year review.
Effects of consultation
In addition to the comments above, the ministry received 2 comments during a teleconference. Comments were received from four organizations and two Indigenous communities:
- consider a seven to ten-year review cycle, given that the SEV is a foundational document and should be longer lasting than five years
- reinforce the importance of integrating the SEV with other considerations, including competitiveness in a global market and economy-wide sharing of cost burdens
- reference “a more resilient and prosperous Ontario” to acknowledge that the economy and the environment are not mutually exclusive
- emphasize that development in Ontario be climate-resilient and protect the resilience of the environment
- proposed change to section 7 so that it states: In the interests of the public, MOECC believes that a broad effort is required to move towards an economy in which carbon is sequestered (i.e. net negative greenhouse gas emissions) and the amount of anthropogenic carbon in the atmosphere is reduced over time fostering a carbon-negative economy and society
- include Traditional Ecological Knowledge
The comments received were considered in the development of a new SEV.
Given that the MECP has posted a new proposal which addresses amendments to its SEV, a decision has been made not to proceed with this proposal as it is now out of date. This notice is to advise that the posting is closed.
The MECP has posted a new proposal for amendments to its SEV. If you wish to review this proposal, or make a comment, you will find the proposal notice here: 019-2826 Statement of Environmental Values for the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
Connect with us
Contact
Diane Blachford
438 University Ave
15th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 1N3
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
Description of policy
The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) is updating its Statement of Environmental Values (SEV) in order to reflect the priority of addressing climate change as well as to enhance the effectiveness of the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR).
The EBR is unique legislation and an important tool in environmental protection. It establishes mechanisms to ensure the public is informed, engaged and consulted on matters of environmental significance, as well as to provide for government accountability in environmental decision-making.
The EBR requires that each ministry prescribed under the act develop and publish a SEV specific to the work of that ministry. A SEV is a ministry’s statement of environmental principles and a guidance document directing the minister and ministry staff as they make decisions regarding policies, acts, regulations and instruments that might affect the environment.
The EBR requires that the SEV explain:
- how the purposes of the act are to be applied when decisions that might significantly affect the environment are made in the ministry
- how consideration of the purposes of the act should be integrated with other considerations, including social, economic and scientific considerations, that are part of decision-making in the ministry
The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario monitors and reports on the obligation of prescribed ministries to consider their SEV when making decisions that may have a significant effect on the environment.
The ministry is proposing the following changes to its SEV:
- update the ministry’s vision to include a resilient, low-carbon economy
- add a section that recognizes that the public interest requires a broad effort to reduce greenhouse gases and build a cleaner and more resilient province with continued involvement and engagement of individuals, businesses, communities, municipalities, non-government organizations and First Nation and Métis communities
- add a commitment to review the SEV every five years
- articulate that the SEV is to be considered for instruments as well as policies, acts and regulations
- revise the term Aboriginal to Indigenous
- ensure that the language used in the SEV is consistent with the language used in the EBR
Purpose of policy
To update the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change’s Statement of Environmental Values to include its commitment to address climate change as well as to enhance the effectiveness of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993.
Public consultation
This proposal was posted for a 120 day public review and comment period starting May 31, 2017. Comments were to be received by September 28, 2017.
All comments received during the comment period are being considered as part of the decision-making process by the ministry.
Please Note: All comments and submissions received have become part of the public record.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from May 31, 2017
to September 28, 2017
Connect with us
Contact
Diane Blachford
438 University Ave
15th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 1N3
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
2By email
0By mail
2