This consultation was open from:
October 25, 2022
to November 24, 2022
Decision summary
In support of Ontario’s Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 and the government’s commitment to support the construction of 1.5 million new housing units over the next ten years, we have updated the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System as proposed and with additional clarifications.
Decision details
A decision was made on December 22, 2022 to proceed with the proposal as described.
Under Ontario’s current policy framework, an evaluated wetland is a wetland that has been assessed according to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES). The OWES is the official procedure to:
- determine the wetlands that are significant
- determine the boundaries of significant wetlands
The OWES assesses wetlands under four categories: biological, social, hydrological, and special features. OWES defines a significant wetland as any evaluated wetland that scores 600 or more points in total, or that scores 200 or more points in either the biological component or the special features component.
The OWES consists of two manuals: the Southern OWES (used to evaluate wetlands located in Ecoregions 6 and 7) and the Northern OWES (used to evaluate wetlands located in Ecoregions 2, 3, 4, and 5). Coastal wetlands are also evaluated using these OWES manuals.
The OWES has been in place since 1983. Over the last decade in particular, we have heard practitioners voice concerns and recommendations for improvements to how Ontario’s significant wetlands are assessed and identified.
Based on the input received from the public, businesses, environmental and conservation organizations, municipalities, and Indigenous peoples, we have made a decision on December 22, 2022 to proceed with changes to the OWES as originally proposed. The changes made include and come into effect on January 1, 2023:
- the addition of new guidance related to re-evaluation of wetlands and updates to mapping of evaluated wetland boundaries
- changes made to better recognize the professional opinion of wetland evaluators and the role of local decision makers (e.g., municipalities)
- other housekeeping edits to ensure consistency with the above changes throughout the manual
Additionally, in response to comments received, we’ve made the following clarifications:
- the evaluation would be considered final once a trained evaluator attests that they have undertaken an evaluation in accordance with OWES
- require that evaluators send the final wetland boundary mapping and wetland status to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry within 30 days for upload to Land Information Ontario
- require evaluators to notify landowners that a wetland evaluation is being conducted on their property
Changes were made to both the OWES southern and northern manuals.
Effects of consultation
Consultation on the proposed changes to the OWES took place from October 25, 2022 to November 24, 2022.
In total, 14,848 comments were received.
We received comments from the public, Indigenous communities, business and industry associations, environmental and conservation organizations, academics, municipalities, and other interested stakeholders.
The majority of comments from the public, environmental and conservation organizations, academic/scientific community, Indigenous communities, and municipalities expressed concern for changes that were perceived to be reducing wetland protection.
The majority of comments from business and industry associations expressed support for the changes that enhance certainty, streamline processes, and reduce burden.
The comments received can be grouped into the following themes:
- Review and approval process of OWES evaluations
The majority of commenters expressed concern about removing the oversight role with respect to wetland evaluations and capacity issues for local planning authorities, however some comments were supportive of the proposed change.
Response: the changes made better recognize the professional opinion of wetland evaluators.
- Guidance related to the re-evaluation of wetlands
The majority of commenters expressed concern about losing the ability to complex wetlands and no longer applying points to the presence of endangered and threatened species in a wetland; however, some commenters expressed support for the proposed changes to wetland complexing and the removal of points for endangered and threatened species. In addition, some concerns were raised that the proposed changes to OWES could increase the risk of flooding.
Response: the changes remove duplicate requirements and streamline the evaluation process while also providing greater certainty and clarity to how significant wetlands are assessed and identified. Species at risk continue to be afforded protection under the Endangered Species Act, 2007.
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.
300 Water Street, 2nd Floor, South tower
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3C7
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
Public Input Coordinator
300 Water Street, 2nd Floor, South tower
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3C7
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
Everyone in Ontario should be able to find a home that is right for them. But too many people are struggling with the rising cost of living and with finding housing that meets their family’s needs.
Ontario’s housing supply crisis is a problem which has been decades in the making. It will take both short-term strategies and long-term commitment from all levels of government, the private sector, and not-for-profits to drive change. Each entity will have to do their part to be part of the solution to this crisis.
Ontario needs more housing, and we need it now. That’s why the Ontario government is taking bold and transformative action to get 1.5 million homes built over the next 10 years.
To support More Homes Built Faster: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan 2022-23, the government introduced the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022,which, if passed, would ensure that cities, towns, and rural communities grow with a mix of ownership and rental housing types that meet the needs of all Ontarians.
These changes are providing a solid foundation to address Ontario’s housing supply crisis over the long term and will be supplemented by continued action in the future.
Background
Under Ontario’s current policy framework, an evaluated wetland is a wetland that has been assessed according to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES). The OWES is the official procedure to:
- determine the wetlands that are significant
- determine the boundaries of significant wetlands
The OWES assesses wetlands under four categories: biological, social, hydrological and special features. OWES defines a significant wetland as any evaluated wetland that scores 600 or more points in total, or that scores 200 or more points in either the biological component or the special features component.
The OWES consists of two manuals: the Southern OWES (used to evaluate wetlands located in Ecoregions 6 and 7) and the Northern OWES (used to evaluate wetlands located in Ecoregions 2, 3, 4, and 5). Coastal wetlands are also evaluated using these OWES manuals.
The OWES has been in place since 1983. Over the last decade in particular, we have heard practitioners voice concerns and recommendations for improvements to how Ontario’s significant wetlands are assessed and identified.
Proposed changes
We are proposing the following changes to content in the OWES manuals:
- add new guidance related to re-evaluation of wetlands and updates to mapping of evaluated wetland boundaries
- make changes to better recognize the professional opinion of wetland evaluators and the role of local decision makers (e.g. municipalities)
- other housekeeping edits to ensure consistency with the above changes throughout the manual
The attached document under Supporting Materials reproduces the current OWES southern manual (without graphics and formatting) and shows proposed changes in blue font. Where the OWES northern manual contains the same content, the proposed changes would be made in that manual as well. Sections of the OWES manuals that are not proposed to change at this time have not been included in the document.
Regulatory impact analysis
The anticipated impacts of the policy proposal on business are neutral to positive. The proposed changes are intended to:
- provide greater certainty and clarity related to how significant wetlands are assessed and identified
- allow for further streamlining of development decisions by removing the requirement for the ministry to review and confirm wetland evaluation results
Through this posting, we welcome comments on anticipated benefits or costs to better help the ministry understand the real costs or cost savings associated with these proposed changes.
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.
300 Water Street, 2nd Floor, South Tower
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 8M5
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from October 25, 2022
to November 24, 2022
Connect with us
Contact
Public Input Coordinator
300 Water Street, 2nd Floor, South tower
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3C7
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
980By email
13,867By mail
1