Should Ontario Streamline Environmental Assessments for Municipal Infrastructure?

Official title: New regulation to focus municipal environmental assessment requirements

Open Regulations & Permits Environment & Climate Housing & Communities Indigenous & Northern
Ontario wants to replace the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment with a faster, simpler process for roads, water systems, and sewage projects. The goal? Speed up housing-related infrastructure. The new rules would create two tracks: a streamlined 120-day assessment for complex projects, and a shorter archaeological review for simpler ones. Indigenous communities would still be consulted on archaeological findings.

Why This Matters

Waiting for a new subdivision to get water and sewer hookups? This could cut months off the timeline. Municipalities say current rules delay housing projects. But environmental groups worry faster approvals mean less scrutiny. If you care about how your community grows—or what gets built near you—this matters.

What Could Change

The Municipal Class EA would be revoked entirely. Complex projects like new water treatment plants would go through a 120-day streamlined process instead of the current multi-year timeline. Simpler road projects would only need archaeological assessments. Private developers building water and sewage systems would face new requirements they didn't have before.

Key Issues

  • Should the Municipal Class EA be replaced with a faster 120-day process?
  • Are the proposed archaeological assessment requirements adequate for protecting heritage sites?
  • Should private developers be subject to the streamlined EA process for water and sewage projects?
  • Are the proposed thresholds for which projects require full assessment appropriate?

How to Participate

  1. Review the Updated Proposed Processes and Project Lists to understand what's changing from the original proposal.
  2. Submit your comments through the Environmental Registry of Ontario by February 3, 2026.
  3. You can also email your feedback to eamodernization.mecp@ontario.ca.

Submit Your Input

Comment On The ERO Notice Draft Email
Questions Being Asked (4)
  1. Do you support the proposed archaeological assessment process for lower-impact projects?
  2. Are the proposed project thresholds appropriate for determining which projects require the streamlined EA process?
  3. Should private sector developers be subject to the streamlined EA process for water and sewage projects?
  4. Are the proposed 120-day timelines and 'time out' provisions adequate for meaningful consultation?

Key Documents