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This consultation closes at 11:59 p.m. on:
November 7, 2026
Proposal summary
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing received a request to amend two official plans in the County of Simcoe through an Order under Section 23 of the Planning Act. The Ministry is seeking input on whether this request should be considered and any additional information that may help inform the Minister’s decision-making.
Why consultation isn't required
Part II of the Environmental Bill of Rights Act, 1993 does not apply to a Minister’s Order to amend an official plan, under Section 23 of the Planning Act. Although not required, the ministry is providing public notice of this request for consultation.
Proposal details
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is consulting on a request it received from the Township of Oro-Medonte to amend its official plan and the County of Simcoe Official Plan through a Minister's Order under Section 23 of the Planning Act, one to amend the Township Official Plan and one to amend the County of Simcoe Official Plan.
Section 23 of the Planning Act authorizes the Minister to amend an official plan (by order) where the Minister is of the opinion that the plan is likely to adversely affect a matter of provincial interest.
The Township has requested a Section 23 order to amend its official plan to redesignate approximately 300 hectares of land from Agricultural to Employment Area to facilitate future employment growth on several large blocks of land located in the vicinity of the existing Lake Simcoe Regional Airport and along the Highway 11 corridor.
The proposal is intended to ensure there is an adequate provision of employment opportunities in the municipality, especially in close proximity to the County airport.
The Township has also requested an amendment to the County of Simcoe Official Plan, wherein the same lands are proposed to be redesignated from Agricultural to Rural. Staff from both the Township and the County have advised this change is necessary to facilitate conformity between the two official plans.
The request for a Section 23 order was supported by Council resolutions passed by the Township of Oro-Medonte on June 10, 2026 and the County of Simcoe on June 23, 2026.
In addition to the above, Township staff have identified a number of other changes to its official plan policies and mapping that are needed to ensure its current employment area policy framework aligns with the Planning Act and the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 (PPS 2024).
To help ensure decisions are made in a transparent manner and support government priorities, the Ministry is seeking feedback on whether this request should be considered and is seeking additional information from the public and other stakeholders that may help inform a decision.
This proposal for an order under Section 23 of the Planning Act is posted for consultation as a “regulation” notice type due to webform template formatting limitations. However, the proposed order, is made, will not be a regulation and will not be filed with the Registrar of Regulations.
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12th floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
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Contact
mmahzoningorders@ontario.ca
12th floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
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Contact
mmahzoningorders@ontario.ca
12th floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J3
Canada