The government has released a discussion paper that outlines a different environmental assessment process, including “immediate, short-term fixes”.

Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, says "Low-risk projects that have positive impacts in our communities shouldn't be held up by lengthy approvals. This review will ensure that the public's voice is heard, and the proper environmental protections are in place, particularly that climate change and increasing extreme weather is considered in project planning."

“Our proposed modernized plan will ensure strong environmental protections, enable electronic submissions, help address duplication, streamline processes, improve service standards to reduce delays and better recognize other planning processes that have evolved over the past four decades.”

The province is proposing to exempt low-risk projects from having to undergo an environmental assessment. Low-risk activities include, snow plowing and de-icing operations, constructing roadside parks and adding bike lanes. The government says this will “free up ministry resources to focus on higher risk activities.”

The Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan includes:

• cancelling the cap and trade carbon tax 
• ending the Drive Clean program for passenger vehicles and redesigning the emissions testing program for heavy-duty vehicles
• proposing to increase renewable content in gasoline by 15 per cent as early as 2025 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without increasing the price at the pump
• proposing emissions performance standards for large industrial emitters to ensure polluters pay their fair share for their greenhouse gas emissions and help Ontario achieve its share of Canada's 2030 emissions target
• releasing a waste discussion paper that proposes banning food and organic waste from landfill
• proposing amendments to ensure conservation authorities focus and deliver on their core mandate protecting people, property and natural resources from the threats and impacts of extreme weather and flooding
• proposing changes to the Endangered Species Act that would “better enable positive outcomes for species at risk while streamlining processes where inefficiencies and uncertainty exists.”

The Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan considers our province's specific priorities, challenges and opportunities, and commits to reducing our emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, a target that aligns with the federal government's Paris commitments, without imposing a carbon tax. 

"Our plan serves as proof that you can both oppose a carbon tax and continue to do more to fight climate change - you don't have to choose," said Minister Phillips.

source: media release, Government of Ontario

photo: Premier Ford and MPP Norm Miller at Muskoka flood site from FordNation Facebook