MSO-NE provides a policy-led 'One Window' planning service that protects provincial interests through provincial input, review, decision-making, appeal and tracking of land use planning applications. Where the Province of Ontario is the approval authority for planning applications made under the Planning Act, MSO-NE acts as the single point of provincial contact and co-ordinates the review and approval of applications with up to 6 partner planning ministries and various local, provincial and federal agencies. Early consultation for new planning applications is always encouraged, and through early consultation matters of provincial interest are often identified and resolved prior to the formal submission of applications.
In addition to the One Window planning service, MSO-NE works with municipalities to promote innovative approaches and practices in land use planning and to support the implementation of provincial initiatives, such as brownfields redevelopment.
In Northeastern Ontario, the Province approves all municipal Official Plans and amendments, although the Cities of North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Greater Sudbury, Timmins and Elliot Lake are exempt from the Minister’s approval for amendments to their Official Plans. Approval of other planning applications (such as subdivisions, consents and zoning by-law amendments) may rest with the Province, local municipalities or Planning Boards, depending upon specific circumstances. To determine who has approval authority for a particular type of application under the Planning Act, please consult the map of Approval Authorities for Northeastern Ontario
.
Where the Province of Ontario is not the approval authority for an application made under the Planning Act, approvals are made by local jurisdictions, either by municipalities or Planning Boards. Both municipalities and planning boards are charged with looking after matters of provincial interest when making local land use planning decisions. This process is known as municipal plan review.
Much of Northeastern Ontario’s land base is not located within municipal jurisdictions, and instead is unincorporated territory. While most planning approvals for private lands in unincorporated areas are handled by the province in lieu of municipal jurisdiction, some planning boards do approve certain applications under the Planning Act for some specific unincorporated areas. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (for mining lands) look after resource planning issues on Crown lands under various legislative authorities.