Amendments to 2019 greenhouse gas emissions reporting requirements in response to the COVID-19 outbreak

ERO number
019-1775
Notice type
Bulletin
Act
Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990
Posted by
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Bulletin posted
Last updated

This notice is for informational purposes only. There is no requirement to consult on this initiative on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. Learn more about the types of notices on the registry.

Bulletin summary

We have made administrative amendments to O. Reg 390/18 in response to the challenges industry is facing during the COVID-19 outbreak, such as staffing shortages. The changes provide temporary relief by allowing for extensions to the 2019 greenhouse gas emissions reporting and verification deadlines.

Why consultation isn't required

On April 1, 2020, the Ontario Government made a temporary regulation to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Ontario Regulation 115/20 exempts all proposals for policies, acts, regulations and instruments from posting requirements under the EBR until 30 days after the declared emergency is terminated.

It is important to note that the amendments to O. Reg 390/18 are largely administrative in nature and are not expected to have a significant impact on the environment. These amendments also do not affect the quantification requirements for greenhouse gas emissions or the requirement for facilities to submit and verify their 2019 greenhouse gas emissions reports.

Bulletin details

Ontario recognizes the impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the province and is taking necessary steps to ensure the health of all Ontarians while ensuring goods and services can continue to be delivered.

On April 23, 2020, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) announced it will extend the facility greenhouse gas emissions reporting deadline from June 1 to July 31, 2020.

To align with the federal government’s extension and maintain reporting harmonization, Ontario has made amendments to Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions: quantification, reporting and verification regulation, O. Reg. 390/18 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

These include:

  • providing authority to the director to extend the June 1 reporting deadline and the September 1 verification deadline in specific circumstances, including:
    • emergency situations (such as the COVID-19 outbreak)
    • technical issues with the reporting platform
    • corresponding changes to relevant federal GHG reporting deadlines
  • waiving or delaying the requirement for site visits by third-party verifiers for 2019 in certain circumstances
  • delaying the requirement for select facilities to change third-party verifiers specifically for the 2019 reporting year

These amendments allow the director to provide temporary relief for large emitters by extending administrative greenhouse gas emissions reporting and verification requirements without compromising our strong protections for the environment and human health and harmonizes with the federal government.

We also understand that an on-site visit is often part of the verification process and that many businesses are not allowing external visitors on-site or the sites are closed due to physical distancing measures being taken to limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, we have temporarily removed or delayed site visit requirements in certain circumstances which will help ensure worker safety and physical distancing rules.

Regulating large emitters is a key part of the government’s Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure Ontario achieves its share of Canada’s 2030 emissions target.

Details on these changes will be posted to Ontario’s greenhouse gas reporting webpage once the director’s decision is finalized.

Supporting materials

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Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

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Contact

Shelley Hyatt

Phone number
Office
Air Policy Instruments and Programs Design Branch
Address

77 Wellesley Street West
Ferguson Block, 10th floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 2T5
Canada

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