This consultation was open from:
February 17, 2010
to April 3, 2010
Decision summary
In 2011, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks and other ministries, decided not to pursue a regulatory approach on shoreline protection and implement programs for shoreline protection. Shoreline protection projects are reported on through the Minister’s Annual Report on Lake Simcoe.
Decision details
In 2011, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and other ministries decided not to pursue a regulatory approach on shoreline protection. The province has implemented and/or supported several programs to support shoreline protection and restoration:
- Since 2011, landowners and organizations throughout the Lake Simcoe watershed have been actively engaged in Community Stewardship Programs for education and outreach, and delivered projects to protect the shoreline. As a result, over 10,000 meters of shoreline / streambank have been stabilized.
- The province also released “Along the Shoreline” guides, describing the best management practices that landowners, their contractors and municipalities can undertake to restore, and protect Lake Simcoe and its shorelines.
- The province supports municipalities in their efforts to protect the Lake Simcoe shoreline. For example, the province funded the Town of Innisfil to work with other watershed municipalities, First Nations and Provincial and Federal Agencies to develop a Community Planning Permit system along the Innisfil shoreline. Our Shoreline Project engaged local communities implementing a vision for an uncomplicated shoreline permitting process that established clear rules that are used to manage development along the shoreline. The Our Shore Innisfil Community Planning Permit System (CPPS), which came into effect January 8, 2019, allows the town to issue one permit combining zoning, minor variances, site plan, site alterations, and grading and tree removal approval — streamlining the process.
The province and partners continue to support ongoing analysis and mapping of priority areas for restoration, the promotion of citizen science in the watershed, and the promotion of best management actions across the watershed.
Shoreline protection projects are reported on through the Minister’s Annual Report on Lake Simcoe.
Effects of consultation
As a result of public consultation on the proposal, the Ministry received a total of 29 comments.
Comments were received and were considered as appropriate including in the development and implementation of related programs.
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
Madhu Malhotra
40 St. Clair Avenue West
10th floor
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
This notice was originally posted in the old Environmental Registry under number 010-9107
Description of policy
The Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008 provides authority for a shoreline protection regulation to regulate activities that may adversely affect the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed. The regulation may apply to areas within or close to the shoreline area of Lake Simcoe, a permanent or intermittent stream, or a wetland.
The Plan commits the province to develop a draft shoreline protection regulation within one year, by June, 2010, (policy 6.16-SA).
The Ministry is moving ahead with the first step in examining potential elements of a draft shoreline protection regulation, by releasing a discussion paper that provides conceptual approaches to regulating certain activities which may become part of a future regulation.
The discussion paper addresses the following key activities:
For shoreline areas:
- Restrictions on vegetation removal and requirements for establishing vegetated buffers
- Restrictions on septic systems within 100 metres of shoreline
- Restrictions on fertilizer use
For wetlands:
- Enhanced enforcement (stop-work orders) for interference with wetlands
- Restrictions on vegetation removal in and around wetlands
The discussion paper also identifies the possible need to clarify a few matters addressed in the Plan, including significant shoreline alteration and wetland drainage.
The discussion paper provides some broad principles that outline how a proposed regulation may be implemented in the future. A future shoreline regulation may rely on a mix of soft and hard compliance tools, building on existing tools and mechanisms to the extent possible. If the province chooses to proceed, it may utilize existing agencies and programs wherever possible for implementation to avoid duplication and to maximize cost effectiveness.
Purpose of Policy:
The Lake Simcoe Protection Plan recognizes that healthy and natural shoreline areas provide a variety of functions, including control of run-off and associated nutrients, stabilizing shorelines from erosion, and conserving habitats for a high number of aquatic and terrestrial species.
The Plan commits the province to develop a draft shoreline protection regulation within one year, by June, 2010, (policy 6.16-SA). This EBR posting is the first step in meeting this provincial commitment.
Other Information:
Legislative Authority
In December 2008, the Lake Simcoe Protection Act was passed in Ontario. The purpose of this Act is to protect and restore the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed.
TheLake Simcoe Protection Act required the Province to establish a protection plan for the Lake and surrounding area. A Lake Simcoe Protection Plan has been developed and took effect on June 2, 2009. Policies in the Plan can legally affect decisions related to specified legal instruments (e.g. decisions under the Planning Act, Conservation Authorities Act, Public Lands Act, and other prescribed instruments), but it cannot affect all activities.
A future shoreline protection regulation may regulate activities that may adversely affect the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed. The regulation may:
- Regulate or prohibit activities;
- Require persons to do things;
- Provide for the appointment of officers;
- Authorize an officer to issue orders;
- Provide for the permitting of an activity.
Provincial Commitment
The Lake Simcoe Protection Plan outlines a number of actions to protect and restore the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed. In the near-term these actions will focus on the issues most critical to the health of the Lake, including improving water quality through reduced phosphorus loadings into the Lake. The Plan sets a lake dissolved oxygen target of 7 milligrams per litre and a phosphorus goal of 44 Tonnes per year.
Protection of the Lake Simcoe shoreline area is a key component of the Plan. The Plan includes the following targets related to shoreline protection:
- No further loss of natural shorelines on Lake Simcoe
- Achieve a greater proportion of natural vegetative cover in large high quality patches
- Achieve a minimum 40 percent high quality natural vegetative cover in the watershed
- Achieve protection of wetlands
- Achieve naturalized riparian areas on Lake Simcoe and along streams
- Restore natural areas or features
- Achieve increased ecological health based on the status of indicator species and maintenance of natural biodiversity
Phosphorus Reduction Strategy and Water Quality Trading
In addition to the Shoreline Protection Regulation Discussion Paper, other initiatives to protect and restore the ecological health of the watershed are being consulted on concurrently:
- Draft Phosphorus Reduction Strategy and associated proposed amendments to the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan (available at www.ebr.gov.on.ca, registry number 010-8986)
- Water Quality Trading Feasibility Study for the Lake Simcoe Watershed (available at www.ebr.gov.on.ca, registry number 010-8989).
Other Public Consultation Opportunities:
During the EBR posting period, the ministry will host sessions where stakeholders and the public will have the opportunity to provide comments on , the Lake Simcoe Shoreline Protection Discussion Paper. During these sessions stakeholders and the public can also comment on other related EBR postings, including the draft Phosphorus Reduction Strategy and associated proposed amendments to the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and the Water Quality Trading Feasibility Study.
Information sessions will be held in the following locations:
NEWMARKET
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Stakeholder Information Session: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Public Information Session: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Newmarket Community Centre
200 Doug Duncan Drive
Newmarket, Ontario
BARRIE
Monday, February 22, 2010
Stakeholder Information Session: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Public Information Session: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
South Shore Centre
205 Lakeshore Drive
Barrie, Ontario
UXBRIDGE
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Stakeholder Information Session: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Public Information Session: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Uxbridge Library
9 Toronto Street South
Uxbridge, Ontario RAMARA
RAMARA
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Stakeholder Information Session: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Public Information Session: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Udney Community Centre
2347 Concession Road 10, Udney
Township of Ramara, Ontario
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 February 17, 2010
to April 3, 2010
Connect with us
Contact
Laura Blease
40 St. Clair Ave West
10th floor
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
18By email
0By mail
0