Current status

Ontario has exempted certain Crown projects related to provincial parks and conservation reserves from the Environmental Assessment Act. This means that these projects are no longer subject to the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves.

We also established the Project Evaluation Policy under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act to guide consideration of potential environmental effects and consultation for certain proposed projects within provincial parks and conservation reserves.

Project summary

With the amended regulation under the Environmental Assessment Act, most projects will no longer follow the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves.

Instead, a new Project Evaluation Policy under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 provides guidance for impact assessments and related consultation for projects in provincial parks and conservation reserves.

The requirements of the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves will continue to apply to projects where consultation was underway as of September 8, 2023, until a Statement of Completion is submitted.

Proponent

Ministry of  the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Location

Ontario

Type

Resource

Reference number

99021

Contact

Cindy Batista, Environmental Assessment Branch

cindy.batista@ontario.ca

Project history

Revised policy proposal (2023): approved
Date published: July 21, 2023
Expiry of public comment period: August 20, 2023

Decision date: September 13, 2023

Exemption regulation (2020): approved
Date submitted: July 8, 2020
Expiry of public comment period: August 22, 2020

Decision date: May 11, 2023

Class environmental assessment—amendment (2015): submitted
Date submitted: April 24, 2015
Expiry of public comment period: November 2, 2015

Class environmental assessment (2004): approved
Date submitted: October 15, 2001
Expiry of public comment period: December 21, 2001
Expiry of public comment period for ministry review: April 12, 2002
Decision date: September 23, 2004

Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted: November 1, 1999
Expiry of public comment period: December 17, 1999
Decision date: April 20, 2000

Exemption regulation (2023)

Ontario is taking the next steps to update its almost 50-year-old environmental assessment (EA) program.

To support the EA modernization initiative, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks finalized an exemption regulation under the Environmental Assessment Act for certain Crown projects related to provincial parks and conservation reserves.

Regulation 334  (General) under the Environmental Assessment Act has been amended to include an exemption for:

  • establishing, amending and rescinding the boundaries of a provincial park or conservation reserve
  • acquiring land for establishing new provincial parks or conservation reserves or for adding land to an existing provincial park or conservation reserve
  • disposing of land in a provincial park or conservation reserve
  • any undertaking related to a provincial park or conservation reserve that is carried out by, or on behalf, of the minister responsible for the administration of the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006

The exemption includes projects such as those required to carry out the management of existing provincial parks or conservation reserves including:

  • resource stewardship (for example, wildlife and vegetation management)
  • development and operations (for example, new or refurbishment of facilities)
  • land and resource disposition projects (for example, lease authorizations)

The exemption does not apply to:

  • projects for land claim settlements or other agreements with Indigenous communities about land, which are already addressed in an existing exemption
  • projects where a process of public consultation under the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves is underway, until a Statement of Completion is submitted

Project evaluation policy (2023)

We finalized a Project Evaluation Policy under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 (PPCRA).

This new policy will guide the assessment of environmental impacts, as well as consultation with government agencies, stakeholders, the public and Indigenous communities for certain proposed projects in provincial parks and conservation reserves.

The Project Evaluation Policy replaces the environmental evaluation and consultation requirements under the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves, with guidance for projects which are subject to the policy.

The policy does not apply to certain projects that are:

  • considered administrative
  • subject to other requirements such as acquisitions, or provincial park or conservation reserve boundary changes

The changes will:

  • eliminate duplication for projects already covered by work undertaken as part of the PPCRA and other requirements (for example, amending the boundaries of provincial parks and conservation reserves)
  • focus on projects with higher potential for harm to the environment
  • establish an efficient process for evaluation
  • result in a process for assessment and consultation through a policy under the PPCRA rather than the Environmental Assessment Act
  • provide a process for issue resolution

The Project Evaluation Policy is available on the Environmental Registry under “Supporting Materials.”

Class environmental assessment—amendment (2015)

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) proposed an amendment to align its Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ code of practice for preparing, reviewing and using class environmental assessments in Ontario (2014) . These amendments to the Class EA were not made.

Learn more on the Environmental Registry of Ontario.

Class environmental assessment (2004)

On September 23, 2004 the Minister of the Environment approved this class EA with conditions.

This class EA replaces:

  • an exemption order for projects and activities for or located in provincial parks and conservation reserves—MNR-59/2
  • exemption orders for establishing, amending and rescinding boundaries of, and acquiring land for, new or existing provincial parks and conservation reserves—MNR-61, MNR-63 and MNR-65

MNR must review the class EA every 5 years. Any necessary revisions will be made using the appropriate amending procedures.

Terms of reference

On April 20, 2000 the Minister of the Environment approved the terms of reference for this class environmental assessment.

Get details on the notice of approval.