Email this pageHow Planning Reform is Linked to Other Initiatives
Planning reform is a key component of the government’s commitment to building strong communities in Ontario. There are also a number of interrelated initiatives to support strong communities that are currently underway. These initiatives will depend on a strong land use planning system for effective implementation. They include, among other initiatives:
The Greenbelt Act, 2005 is one of the key elements of the government’s agenda to protect greenspace in the Golden Horseshoe. The Act received Royal Assent on February 24, 2005. The Greenbelt Act, 2005, authorizes the designation of a Greenbelt Area and the establishment of a Greenbelt Plan. The Greenbelt Plan was released on February 28, 2005.
The newly protected area will be added to the protected areas of the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Niagara Escarpment to form a 1.8-million-acre greenbelt area. The Greenbelt will permanently protect environmentally sensitive areas and agricultural land while supporting agriculture, providing opportunities for recreation and natural resource extraction, and allowing infrastructure necessary to support vibrant rural communities in the Greenbelt.
On June 13, 2005, the Places to Grow Act, 2005 received Royal Assent. The Act provides a legal framework for the government to designate any geographic area of the province as a growth plan area and to develop a growth plan in consultation with local officials and stakeholders. The Act enables the government to plan for population growth, economic expansion and the protection of the environment, agricultural lands and other valuable natural resources in a co-ordinated and strategic way. The legislation is provincial in scope and allows for growth plans in any part of Ontario.
On June 16, 2006, the Government of Ontario released the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2006. It was prepared under the Places to Grow Act, 2005. Building on broad stakeholder consultation and technical research, this plan outlines a vision and strategy for where and how the region should grow over the next 30 years.
- Source Water Protection
As part of its strategy to protect Ontario’s drinking water from source to tap, the government has committed to the development and approval of watershed-based source protection plans. Watershed-based source protection was a key recommendation of the Walkerton Inquiry.
On December 5, 2005, the Government of Ontario introduced legislation that, if passed, would mandate the development of source water protection plans for watersheds across Ontario. Bill 43, the proposed Clean Water Act, 2006, received second reading on May 18, 2006.
The Ministry of Environment is working with other government ministries to ensure source protection is coordinated with other government initiatives and programs.
- Strong Rural Communities - Ontario’s Rural Plan
Strong Rural Communities - Ontario's Rural Plan was launched in November 2004. The Rural Plan addresses the unique and diverse needs of rural Ontario focusing on three priorities: Strong People/Strong Economy, Better Health and Success for Students. The rural plan sets out goals for strong rural communities and outlines the strategies that the government and other partners are working on to achieve results. The plan provides the basis for coordinating the development of government-wide policies and programs that respond to the challenges and needs of rural Ontario.
Summary
Planning Reform and the related initiatives are aimed at the comprehensive solutions needed to build a strong Ontario.