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We’ve modernized the Rules of Procedure for the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal to make them easier for parties to understand and follow, and to streamline proceeding processes.

Ontario and Canada have finalized a new agreement to restore, protect and conserve Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health.

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) implemented a five-year cargo e-bike pilot program as of March 1, 2021. Additionally, the e-bike redefinition proposal has been updated following analysis of feedback received and posted to the Environmental and Regulatory Registry for a 30-day comment period.

The Statements of Environmental Values of the former Ministries of Culture and Tourism have been replaced with a single Statement of Environmental Values for the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries that reflects MHSTCI’s name, structure and mandate.

We have updated the Director’s Directions: Minimum Requirements for Operational Plans.

We are delivering on our Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan commitment to hold polluters accountable by expanding the use of administrative monetary penalties and modernizing the process to seize vehicle permits and plates. Once implemented, these changes will strengthen our enforcement tools to ensure compliance with environmental laws.

The government has made changes to the Planning Act so that zoning orders are not subject to the legislative requirement to be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement.

We finalized the amended and restated Operating Agreement between the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority. The amendments will help ensure transparent and effective oversight for Ontario’s producer responsibility model and will address necessary administrative changes.

We are proceeding with public consultation on a regulatory proposal for the 13 invasive species and watercraft as a carrier of invasive species under the Invasive Species Act, 2015, included in this posting.

The ministry is moving forward with amending regulations made under the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act to streamline permissions for certain low risk short-term water taking activities. These amendments align approval requirements with the activity’s level of risk, while maintaining environmental oversight.

Ontario is updating its Guideline A-5 to align with recent federal guidance regarding the control of air emissions from stationary combustion turbines. These changes will enhance environmental protection by aligning with requirements for stationary combustion turbines eligible for the Air Emissions Environmental Activity and Sector Registry.

We have amended regulations made under the Environmental Protection Act and the Environmental Assessment Act to streamline permissions for combined heat and power (CHP) systems or power only systems. These amendments will align approval requirements with the level of risk, while still ensure environmental protections are in place.

We amended regulations under the Mining Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Environmental Bill of Rights that came into force on April 1, 2021. The amended regulations include updating section references to align with the legislative amendments to the Mining Act, which received Royal Assent on December 10, 2019, under Bill 132.

We are moving forward with changes to the Ontario Water Resources Act to require water bottling companies to have the support of their local host municipality for a new or increased groundwater taking in their community.

We are moving forward with enhancements to Ontario’s policies, programs and scientific tools for managing water takings to ensure water resources in the province are protected and used sustainably.

We are moving forward with guidance to help enhance the management of water takings in areas where quantity is a concern and where there are competing demands for water. We are also revoking the interim guidance on water bottling renewals at the same time that the enhancements to Ontario’s water taking program will be put in place on April 1, 2021.

On January 9, 2017 the ministry proposed a Transitional Operating Agreement (TOA) between the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority, under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016. After considering input received, a decision was made to finalize the TOA.

The Ministry of Infrastructure has updated its Statement of Environmental Values to reflect the changes in its structure and mandate, as well as to acknowledge the priority of addressing climate change.