Building better lives: Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan 2017

ERO number
013-1907
Notice type
Policy
Posted by
Ministry of Infrastructure
Notice stage
Decision
Decision posted
Comment period
November 28, 2017 - January 27, 2018 (60 days) Closed
Last updated

This consultation was open from:
November 28, 2017
to January 27, 2018

Decision summary

Building Better Lives: Ontario’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan, 2017 (“LTIP 2017”) was released on November 28, 2017. The 2017 Plan set out the previous government’s vision for infrastructure planning and investment in Ontario.

Decision details

The release of LTIP 2017, with its Technical Appendix, was an important interim step in meeting the requirements for Long-Term Infrastructure Plans established in the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015 (the Act).

In particular, LTIP 2017 made substantial progress toward meeting the requirement of the Act to develop an asset inventory recording the age, condition and value of Ontario’s infrastructure assets.

LTIP 2017 also set out the previous government’s direction for infrastructure planning across Ontario, including policy initiatives and specific government commitments for action.

LTIP 2017 advanced infrastructure planning and delivery by setting out the following commitments:

  • integrating life-cycle assessment (LCA) into infrastructure planning, procurement, business case development and decision-making processes;
  • identifying and developing pilot projects on Community Benefits as well as developing a Community Benefits Framework;
  • developing a broadband strategy that will outline a vision for broadband connectivity, identify key priorities and outline a roadmap to achieving them;
  • developing a Social Purpose Real Estate Strategy that embeds community and social needs into government decision-making on surplus properties and infrastructure planning

LTIP 2017 also addressed the need for the province to be able to adapt to infrastructure planning in anticipation of future changes to:

  • demographics
  • disruptive technology; and
  • climate

LTIP 2017 also identified the importance of looking at new opportunities in infrastructure planning such as:

  • future technological innovations
  • green infrastructure; and
  • strategic partnerships

Comments received

Through the registry

6

By email

10

By mail

0
View comments submitted through the registry

Effects of consultation

The comments received in response to LTIP 2017 were from a range of stakeholders across sectors such as environment, energy, transportation, municipal, agriculture, and aggregates.

A total of 16 comments were received and generally fell across eight key themes:

  • life-cycle assessment
  • climate change
  • green infrastructure
  • low-carbon procurement
  • value for money and procurement
  • coordinated planning
  • land-use planning
  • asset management

Comments included:

  • the importance of accurate data to ensure current and up-to-date life-cycle assessment approaches
  • the importance of making strategic infrastructure investments in rural Ontario to create jobs, spark private investment, support food production and ease some urban challenges
  • the importance of green infrastructure as part of asset management planning
  • support for the 2017 Plan’s focus on community benefits
  • the need for land-use planning alignment that responds to meet growing needs
  • the importance of a coordinated approach to infrastructure planning among all levels of government

Overall, stakeholders were supportive of the goals and policy initiatives in the LTIP 2017.

Comments received did not have an effect on decision-making on the proposal.

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.

Infrastructure Policy Division
Address

900 Bay Street
Mowat Block, 5th floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 1C2
Canada

Office phone number

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Contact

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Original proposal

ERO number
013-1907
Notice type
Policy
Posted by
Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
Proposal posted

Comment period

November 28, 2017 - January 27, 2018 (60 days)

Proposal details

Description of policy

The Ministry of Infrastructure has released Ontario’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan 2017 (LTIP). The LTIP sets forth a vision for Ontario infrastructure planning and investment and is a key interim step in meeting the requirements for Long Term Infrastructure Plans set out in the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015 (IJPA).

These documents can be accessed.

Purpose of policy

The LTIP builds on previous infrastructure planning efforts that have been the subject of consultation. Ontario released the Province’s first Long-Term Infrastructure Plan, Building Together, in 2011 to introduce the government’s long-term vision for infrastructure. Building Together improved the way the government approaches infrastructure planning and policy-making. In 2015, the Government of Ontario took the next step to set out important infrastructure planning principles in legislation. Through the IJPA the government set out its long-term approach to planning for improvements to Ontario’s infrastructure assets and the Ministry of Infrastructure has consulted on the development of a regulation associated with municipal asset management planning.

The IJPA requires the government by 2019 to describe the state of its assets, what it needs over the next 10 years and its strategy to meet those needs. The Government of Ontario is taking steps to meet these requirements.

The release of the LTIP 2017, with its Technical Appendix, is an important interim step and makes progress towards meeting the IJPA requirements. In particular, this plan makes substantial progress toward meeting the first requirement of the IJPA: to develop an asset inventory recording the age, condition and value of Ontario’s infrastructure assets.

This is a significant achievement, given the size and scope of Ontario’s infrastructure portfolio. Ontario is a leader in this field. The government is also making progress toward assessing Ontario’s needs and developing a strategy to meet them as it works toward fully meeting the requirements of the IJPA by the legislated deadline of May 2019.

The plan articulates the need for the Province to be able to adapt in anticipation of future changes to demographics, disruptive technology and climate. With the right preparation, Ontario will prosper from these changes by harnessing new opportunities, such as future technological innovations, green infrastructure and strategic partnerships.

The LTIP also proposes to advance infrastructure planning and delivery in relation to:

  • integrating life-cycle assessment (LCA) into infrastructure planning, procurement, business case development and decision making processes.
  • identifying and developing pilot projects on Community Benefits as well as developing a Community Benefits Framework.
  • developing a broadband strategy that will outline a vision for broadband connectivity, identify key priorities and outline a roadmap to achieving them.
  • developing a Social Purpose Real Estate Strategy that embeds community and social needs into government decision-making on surplus properties and infrastructure planning.

Public consultation

This proposal was posted for a 60 day public review and comment period starting November 28, 2017. Comments were to be received by January 27, 2018.

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

In addition to considering comments received through this posting as we work to meet the IJPA requirements, the Ministry will consider public consultation opportunities, including through the Environmental Registry, as it advances infrastructure policy and planning.

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.

Infrastructure Policy Division
Address

900 Bay Street
Mowat Block, 5th floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 1C2
Canada

Office phone number

Comment

Commenting is now closed.

This consultation was open from November 28, 2017
to January 27, 2018

Connect with us

Contact

Elizabeth Elder

Phone number
Office
Infrastructure Policy Division
Address

900 Bay Street
Mowat Block, 5th floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 1C2
Canada

Office phone number