Implementing the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan: Provincial Guidance Needed
In our review of the new Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act (ORMCA) and Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) in the 2001/2002 ECO annual report, the ECO expressed concern about implementation of the Plan and highlighted the need for the province to develop technical guidance, prescribe the Act and instruments under the EBR and develop the promised monitoring program as soon as possible. None of these important provincial implementation responsibilities have been fulfilled to date.
In 2003, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing posted a proposed regulation to prescribe the ORMCA under the EBR, and another regulation to classify ORMCA instruments under the EBR. Neither has been finalized.
The implementation document released with the ORMCP in 2002 said that the provincial government would develop technical guidelines to help users of the Plan to understand, interpret and implement the provisions of the Plan.
In March 2004, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as lead ministry, posted a first series of proposed technical guidance documents on the Environmental Registry for public comment. The Ministry of Natural Resources had prepared the eight technical papers in this first series to assist in implementation of policies that relate to natural heritage, wildlife habitat, connectivity, landform conservation, Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest, protection of species at risk, significant woodlands, and natural heritage evaluations. In June 2005 MAH posted nine more draft policies, this time written by the Ministry of the Environment, relating to developing watershed plans, and preparing water budgets, water conservation plans, hydrological evaluations for hydrologically sensitive features, sub-watersheds, wellhead protection, sewage and water system plans and stormwater management plans. MAH has not posted decision notices on the Registry for any of these 17 proposed policies. As a result, development is proceeding without the promised technical guidance needed to identify key wetlands and woodlands and prepare watershed plans.
(For further information on the implementation of the ORMCP, see page 192.)
| This is an article from the 2005/06 Annual Report to the Legislature from the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. |
Citing This Article:
Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. 2006. "Environmental Protection Requirements for Highway Projects: The Oak Ridges Moraine." Neglecting our Obligations, ECO Annual Report, 2005-06. Toronto, ON : Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. 85.
