The Government of Ontario has completed the review of its land use planning policies contained in the Provincial Policy Statement. The government would like to thank all individuals and groups that participated in shaping the new Provincial Policy Statement by submitting their views and participating in consultation sessions held across the province. Your input was important and helped shape the new policies of the Provincial Policy Statement.
The goal of the review was to make sure that the province's land use planning policies effectively protect Ontario's interests and to determine whether any changes need to be made to the policies.
This page explains the importance of Ontario's land use planning policies.
What is land use planning?
Land use planning means managing our land and resources. It helps each community set goals for how it will develop and grow. It also helps communities work out ways of reaching those goals while keeping important social, economic and environmental concerns in mind.
Ontario's Planning Act sets out the ground rules for land use planning throughout the province and describes how land uses may be controlled and who may control them. The Planning Act also allows the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to issue policy statements on matters related to land use planning that are of provincial interest. These policies are contained in the Provincial Policy Statement, which by law must be reviewed every five years.
What is the Provincial Policy Statement?
The Provincial Policy Statement sets out overall policy directions on matters of provincial interest related to land use planning and development.
The new Provincial Policy Statement (2005), which is issued under the authority of Section 3 of the Planning Act, took effect on March 1, 2005. It replaces the Provincial Policy Statement issued May 22, 1996, and amended February 1, 1997 for all applications made on or after March 1, 2005.
The Strong Communities (Planning Amendment) Act, 2004, (Bill 26) the first step in planning reform, received Royal Assent on November 30, 2004. For matters that are subject to the new Provincial Policy Statement (2005) the Strong Communities (Planning Amendment) Act, 2004, (Bill 26) requires that planning decisions and advice “shall be consistent with” policies in the new Provincial Policy Statement (2005). The requirement that planning decisions “shall be consistent with” the Provincial Policy Statement (2005) is effective to coincide with the new Provincial Policy Statement (2005). The effective date for the Provincial Policy Statement (2005) and the new “shall be consistent with” standard is March 1, 2005.
For certain matters in process before March 1, 2005 the Planning Act requires that municipalities, provincial ministries, the Ontario Municipal Board and other decision-makers "have regard" to the Provincial Policy Statement (1996, amended 1997) when making decisions on land use planning matters. This means that decision-makers are obliged to consider specific policies when carrying out any planning responsibility.
It is expected that decision-makers will implement the appropriate one: the Provincial Policy Statement (1996, and amended in 1997) and the new Provincial Policy Statement (2005) in the context of other planning objectives and local circumstances.
What is the Provincial Policy Statement Five-year Review?
In accordance with Section 3 of the Planning Act, the policies of the Provincial Policy Statement must be reviewed every five years. The purpose of the review was to determine the scope and nature of changes, which are required to effectively protect provincial interests in land use planning.
As part of the Planning Reform initiative, the government consulted widely with the public and stakeholders throughout the summer of 2004, including consultation on the draft Provincial Policy Statement. The consultation ended on August 31, 2004.
The public consultation on the draft Provincial Policy Statement included thirteen town hall meetings/public information sessions and eight regional stakeholder workshops across the province, a posting on the Environmental Bill of Rights and e-consultation.
The five-year review also included consultation with interested Stakeholders across Ontario, in summer/fall 2001 and 2002. A Summary of Consultations Report was released in 2002. This report identifies the range of input stakeholders provided on the Provincial Policy Statement during those earlier consultations.
Why should I be interested?
Land use planning affects almost every aspect of life in Ontario.
The land use planning policies in the Provincial Policy Statement help make sure that:
- communities grow efficiently and in a way that respects the environment by wisely using resources and land, including promoting intensification
- municipalities plan for adequate roads, sewers and other municipal services to meet the needs of their communities
- the province's resources, such as its agricultural lands, mineral resources, wetlands, woodlands and water supply, are protected
- opportunities for redevelopment, intensification and new development are available to meet the housing needs of Ontario's communities
- development occurs outside of hazardous areas
These are only a few of the provincial interests that the Provincial Policy Statement addresses.
Comments
The deadline for submissions is now over.
The government wishes to thank all individuals and groups that participated in the consultation through e-mails, letters, submissions, completion of the consultation documents, the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry, the public town hall meetings and workshops. Copies of the consultation documents, including the Provincial Policy Statement Consultation Paper #2, are available online for information purposes.