Scarborough Bluffs West Project
Learn about the environmental assessment process for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the City of Toronto’s proposed Scarborough Bluffs West Project in Toronto.
Current status
On October 1, 2025, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks approved the terms of reference for this project, which is the first step in the environmental assessment process.
Project summary
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the City of Toronto plan to conserve and enhance natural features and minimize hazards related to the Scarborough Bluffs while improving the public’s access to the Scarborough waterfront.
The Scarborough Bluffs West Project consists of the following activities at the location described below:
- constructing or changing trails or changing existing roads to provide or enhance public access to or along the waterfront
- constructing or changing works for shoreline protection, erosion or sedimentation control or slope stability
- constructing, creating or changing works or spaces for recreational purposes or other public use
- any activity related to an activity described in the preceding bullets, including conserving, creating or changing aquatic or terrestrial habitat
Learn more on the proponent’s website.
Proponents
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and City of Toronto
Location
The Scarborough Bluffs West Project is located along or near the Lake Ontario shoreline in Scarborough, extending 4.5 kilometres from Silver Birch Avenue to Bluffer’s Park.
Project type
Conservation authority
Reference number:
23010
Contact
Stephen Deneault, Project Officer, Environmental Assessment Branch
Stephen.Deneault@ontario.ca
Project history
Voluntary Agreement: June 10, 2025
Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted: June 20, 2025
Expiry of public comment period: July 20, 2025
Decision date: October 1, 2025
Voluntary Agreement
A proponent for a project that is not subject to the Environmental Assessment Act may still decide that it would be beneficial for the Act to apply to their project and to proceed through the Comprehensive Environmental Assessment process.
The Environmental Assessment Act includes a provision that enables a person or entity to enter into an agreement with the minister to have the Act apply to the proponent’s project. These agreements are commonly referred to as “voluntary agreements.”
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the City of Toronto requested to complete the Comprehensive Environmental Assessment process under the Environmental Assessment Act to fully assess and consult on a range of alternatives to their project and its potential impacts to the Lake Ontario shoreline in Scarborough.
On June 10, 2025, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks entered into an agreement with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the City of Toronto to make the Scarborough Bluffs West Project subject to the Comprehensive Environmental Assessment requirements under the Environmental Assessment Act.
Entering into a voluntary agreement does not mean that the project is approved to proceed, only that the project has been made subject to the requirements of Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act.
Terms of reference
The purpose of the Environmental Assessment (EA) is to identify alternatives and study the potential effects of the proposed project on the environment.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the City of Toronto submitted their proposed terms of reference for the Scarborough Bluffs West Project for approval by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on June 20, 2025.
On October 1, 2025, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks approved the terms of reference for this project, which is the first step in the environmental assessment process. The terms of reference sets out the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the City of Toronto’s work plan for addressing the Environmental Assessment Act requirements for the EA. It builds upon the background work completed to date and includes:
- alternatives and criteria to evaluate impacts that will be considered in the EA
- a description of public consultation activities and the consultation plan to be completed for the EA
- responses to comments raised during the review of the draft terms of reference
Notice of approval
Environmental Assessment Act subsection 17.4 (10) approval of terms of reference for the preparation of an environmental assessment.
Proponents: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and City of Toronto
Project: Scarborough Bluffs West Project Environmental Assessment
EA file no.: 23010
As provided for by subsection 17.4 (10) of the Environmental Assessment Act, the terms of reference submitted for approval to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on June 20, 2025 to govern the preparation of an environmental assessment for the above-noted project, is hereby approved.
Pursuant to subsection 17.6 (1) of the Environmental Assessment Act, any environmental assessment for the above-noted project given to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks must be prepared in accordance with the terms of reference, as hereby approved.
Reasons
I am satisfied that an environmental assessment prepared in accordance with the terms of reference will be consistent with the purpose of the Environmental Assessment Act and the public interest for the following reasons:
- The terms of reference provides that the environmental assessment will be completed using a comprehensive public, Indigenous and government agency consultation process that is open and transparent.
- The terms of reference provides an appropriate level of detail to confirm that the completed environmental assessment should contain a sufficient level of detail to accurately assess the environmental effects of alternative methods.
- The terms of reference sets out a planning process that will ensure the completed environmental assessment will be consistent with the purpose of the Environmental Assessment Act and the public interest.
- There are no outstanding issues that have not been incorporated into the terms of reference or that cannot be addressed during the preparation of the environmental assessment.
Dated the 1st day of October, 2025 at Toronto.
Original signed by:
Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2J3