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The Ministry has developed a final strategy – New Horizons: Ontario’s Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy. Feedback received through consultation on the draft strategy, as well as collaboration with the soil health working group have informed the development of the final strategy.

The Minister has issued an overall benefit permit for a single residential home development that may adversely impact Dwarf Hackberry and Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, which are species at risk. The permit includes actions to minimize adverse effects and overall benefit actions for the species.

A new regulation has been made specifying the circumstances under which the Minister of Natural Resources (“Minister”) may issue an order to make a permitting decision in place of a conservation authority or undertake a review of a conservation authority permitting decision.

The Building More Mines Act, 2023 received Royal Assent on May 18, 2023.

We have made minor amendments to the blue box regulation (O. Reg. 391/21) to provide clarity to producers on their blue box obligations and support a smooth transition to a full producer responsibility framework

The minister has issued an overall benefit permit under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 for a residential home development that may adversely impact Dwarf Hackberry and Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, which are species at risk. The permit includes actions to benefit the species, minimize adverse effects and outlines monitoring and reporting requirements.

Amendments to the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act enable the ministry to act directly to reduce risks from hazardous wells when an operator is non-compliant and deceased, insolvent, or bankrupt. These changes were part of the Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025 and took effect on December 3, 2025.

On July 3, 2018, Ontario cancelled the cap and trade program. Given that the Electric and Hydrogen Incentive Program (EHVIP) and the Workplace Electric Vehicle Charging Incentive Program (WEVCIP) was funded through cap and trade proceeds, these programs have been cancelled.

Ontario and Canada have signed a historic bilateral conservation agreement for boreal caribou under the federal Species at Risk Act with the objective to sustain or improve the environmental conditions necessary for the recovery of the boreal caribou, while considering social and economic factors.

We are moving forward with regulatory changes to allow the ministry and owners and operators of wastewater facilities to act quickly to help ensure that waterways in Ontario are protected during an emergency, including by providing wastewater facility owners with temporary staffing options and extending operator licences.

We are proceeding with the plan to protect Slate Island provincial park’s natural and cultural heritage, and incorporating changes based on Indigenous and public feedback. The plan will guide the use, development, management and operation of the park for a 20-year period.

The minister has issued an overall benefit permit under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 to the Ministry of Transportation for construction activities that will impact Redside Dace, which is a species at risk. The permit includes actions to minimize adverse effects and benefit the species, as well as monitoring and reporting requirements.

The minister has issued a social or economic benefit permit to NextStar Energy Inc. and the Corporation of the City of Windsor for impacts to Butler’s Gartersnake, a species at risk. The permit includes actions to minimize adverse effects on the species and its habitat and actions to support the protection and recovery of the species.

Pursuant to Section 53 of the Planning Act, provisional consent was granted on August 19, 2019 regarding application 57-C-173176 for the creation of one new recreational lot on Centre Lake at PIN 31387-0075 in Galbraith unincorporated township, District of Algoma. This decision can be appealed until September 8, 2019.