Ministry of Economic Development and Growth draft Statement of Environmental Values

Description of policy

The Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG) is updating its Statement of Environmental Values (SEV) in order to incorporate the new Ministry name and changes in its structure and mandate, as well as to acknowledge the the priority of addressing climate change.

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; and
• 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 to:

• reflect its name change;
• reflect changes in the Ministry mandate, including the migration of the infrastructure mandate of the former Ministry of Economic Development and Infrastructure to the Ministry of Infrastructure, as well as the alignment of MEDG’s mandate with the Business Growth Initiative;
• incorporate whole-of-government commitments to mitigate and adapt to climate change;
• add a commitment to review the SEV every five years; and
• 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 Economic Development and Growth’s Statement of Environmental Values to incorporate its name change, reflect changes in the Ministry’s structure and mandate, and acknowledge the priority of addressing climate change.

Public consultation

This proposal was posted for a 45 day public review and comment period starting August 21, 2017. Comments were to be received by October 05, 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.

Other public consultation opportunities

This proposal has been posted for a 45 day public review and comment period starting August 21, 2017. If you have any questions, or would like to submit your comments, please do so by October 5, 2017 to the individual listed under Contact. Additionally, you may submit your comments on-line.

All comments received prior to October 5, 2017 will be considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry if they are submitted in writing or electronically using the form provided in this notice and reference EBR Registry number 13-1258.

Please Note: All comments and submissions received will become part of the public record. Comments received as part of the public participation process for this proposal will be considered by the decision maker for this proposal.

Your personal information may be used in the decision making process on this proposal and it may be used to contact you if clarification of your comment is required. It may be shared (along with your comment) with other Ontario Ministries for use in the decision making process. Questions about this collection should be directed to the contact mentioned on the Proposal Notice page.