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July 10, 2020

Since the early spring of 2019, the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA) has been working with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to amend and streamline the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) process.  On July 8, 2020, the MECP posted MEA’s proposed amendments to the MCEA on their Environmental Registry for a 45-day public commenting period.    MEA will be asked to respond to the comments that are received and work with MECP staff as they prepare a recommendation for decision by the Minister.   

Please visit the Environmental Registry (https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-1712) for complete information on the amendments proposed to eight different Class EAs.  The specific information related to the proposed amendment to the MCEA is below (these tables were developed with the support of the MEA):

• Amendment Table 1: Proposed Changes to Road Schedules
• Amendment Table 2: Proposed Changes to Water/Wastewater Schedules
• Amendment Table 3: Proposed Changes to Municipal Class EA Manual (Parts A and D)
• Amendment Table 4: Proposed Changes to Transit Schedules

In addition, the Provincial Government has also introduced the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020, which includes a number of initiatives to support Ontario’s economic recovery. This Bill includes the MECP's proposed amendments to the Environmental Assessment Act, which will allow the government to move forward with the next phase of environmental assessment modernization, to further reduce delays and focus resources on projects with a higher potential for environmental impacts so that communities can get important infrastructure projects built faster, while maintaining strong environmental oversight.   An information notice has been posted on the Environmental Registry to provide information about the proposed legislative changes to the Act that will be proceeding through the legislative process.  Please refer to ERO 019-2051 for more information.  

MEA will be reviewing the proposed next phase of EA modernization and actively participating in the governments process.

Your comments/support for this amendment are important. Please submit comments to callee.robinson@ontario.ca by August 22, 2020.