Part F: Provincial parks and conservation reserves

A “provincial park” and “conservation reserve” have the same meaning as is defined under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 and are also referred to as a “protected area” in part F of this Guide.

Renewable energy projects are generally prohibited within provincial parks or conservation reserves, although some exceptions are listed in section 19 of the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006. Projects meeting the requirements to locate within these areas are subject to a natural heritage assessment (NHA); however, the EIS component is replaced by conditions under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006.

Development is prohibited within the adjacent lands of a provincial park or conservation reserve unless an EIS Report is prepared in accordance with this Guide. Applicants wishing to develop within the adjacent lands to a protected area must undertake an EIS and prepare an EIS report as described in part D and must also incorporate EIS considerations and requirements outlined in this part of this Guide.

F1. Qualified persons

As identified in part B of this Guide, for the purpose of undertaking a required activity (for example, NHA and EIS work) related to provincial parks or conservation reserves, a qualified person shall meet the qualification requirements set out in table F1 below.

F2. Records review

During the records review stage of an NHA, records that relate to provincial parks and conservation reserves maintained by the Ontario government must be searched and analyzed to determine protected area boundaries and to determine whether any part of the project location is proposed within the boundary or within 50 or 120 metres of the boundary, as applicable. Table F2 of this Guide describes sources of information related to protected areas.

Applicants should also collect information regarding the features, functions and values of provincial parks and conservation reserves during records review, as this information will be necessary if the project is proposed within the adjacent lands of these protected areas.

F3. Site investigation

Where any part of the project location is proposed within the adjacent lands of a natural feature which is inside a provincial park or conservation reserve, Ontario Parks should be contacted at op-concerns.comments@ontarioparks.com prior to undertaking site investigations, as a permit may be required. Applicants should work with staff to confirm provincial park or conservation reserve boundaries in relation to the project location.

Applicants proposing projects within the adjacent lands of a provincial park or conservation reserve will have to address the potential negative environmental effects to the provincial park or conservation reserve itself, through an EIS (go to part D of this Guide). Applicants should consider discussing the features, functions and values of the protected area, as well as any field work required to complete an EIS during the site investigation stage.

Ontario Parks can be contacted as a site investigation resource. Visit Ontario Parks.

F4. Environmental impact study

In addition to information in part D this Guide, Ontario Parks may have specific resources which should be consulted when conducting an EIS for protected areas.

An EIS must identify potential negative environmental effects on the features, functions, values, and ecological integrity of the provincial park or conservation reserve, address mitigation of those effects and develop associated monitoring strategies. Through the EIS, applicants must identify and assess the potential impacts of the project on the ability of the protected area to fulfil its role in the protected area system (that is, representation), the integrity of protected area as a whole (for example, intactness), and the features, functions, and values associated with the provincial park or conservation reserve.

Applicants should work with Ontario Parks when preparing an EIS for a project located on lands adjacent to a provincial park or conservation reserve. Consultation with Ontario Parks staff is required regarding any field work proposed within the regulated boundaries of a provincial park or conservation reserve and permits may be required before commencement.

Table F3 of this Guide outlines examples of features, functions and values which, depending on the unique characteristics of the protected area, may need to be considered during the EIS.

Table F3: Protected areas EIS considerations