The proposal includes the items outlined below:

Proposed amendments to the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA)

Through the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, our government has proposed amendments to the EAA, which allow us to move forward with our next phase of our modernization plans, while at the same time supporting the government economic recovery goals by making it possible for us to find efficiencies in the environmental assessment process of important public works.

The legislation would allow us, through subsequent regulations and proclamations, to allow online submissions, reduce the average time by half for the largest projects and match the potential environmental impact of a project to the level of study required.

The proposed changes are aimed at getting important infrastructure projects built faster, while maintaining strong environmental oversight by focusing on projects that have the most potential to impact the environment.

We posted an information notice on the environmental registry to provide information about the proposed legislative changes to the EAA that will be proceeding through the legislative process. Please refer to https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-2051 for more information.

Amendments to Class Environmental Assessments (Class EAs)

My ministry is also seeking input on proposed amendments to 8 Class EAs. These proposed changes would support our modernization initiative as they would exempt low-impact projects from the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act, eliminate duplication and find efficiencies in the planning process. This would speed up projects that are important to communities, such as erosion, repair, or remediation initiatives, or important upgrades to machinery such as waterpower generators.

My ministry is seeking input on these proposed amendments during a 45-day comment period, closing on August 22, 2020. Details of this proposal may be found at https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-1712.

Exempting Regulations

In addition, my ministry is also proposing regulatory exemptions from the Environmental Assessment Act to eliminate duplication and reduce delays for projects and activities related to Indigenous land claim settlements and other agreements with Indigenous communities dealing with land, projects within