The Ministry of Natural Resources has released new guidelines to help communities make balanced planning decisions on natural heritage protection for a healthier, greener Ontario.
Municipalities and other stakeholders involved in land use planning can now access the second edition Natural Heritage Reference Manual online
Municipal planning in Ontario is governed primarily by the Planning Act. The Planning Act is administered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH). MMAH is the lead provincial ministry for municipal planning and it provides a one window planning service on behalf of the province. The Provincial Policy Statement, issued under the Planning Act, provides policy direction on matters of provincial interest related to land use planning. Land use planning in specific areas of the province is also governed by provincial plans such as the Greenbelt Plan 2005, established under various acts. For more information visit the MMAH website.
MNR relies on the efforts of municipalities and other agencies working in partnership with the ministry to ensure the sustainable use and protection of the province’s natural resources. The protection of interests covered by MNR’s mandate in municipal planning is achieved using provincial policies, provincial plans, municipal official plans and decisions made under the Planning Act. MNR mandate interests include:
- biodiversity, natural heritage systems, features and areas
- mineral aggregate resources
- petroleum resources
- public safety related to natural hazards and selected human-made hazards
MNR is responsible for providing information about the above-noted interests to planning authorities such as municipalities, as well as MMAH and other ministries carrying out provincial planning. This information could cover 1) the location of features such as provincially significant wetlands; 2) ecological functions, habitat requirements and environmental sensitivities of features, areas or species; 3) the importance of resources such as mineral aggregates; or 4) technical matters, such as criteria for flood plain management. For more details visit the MNR Municipal Planning Information Resources page.
The involvement of MNR in the municipal planning process is carried out in accordance with the One Window Planning Service led by MMAH. An important aspect of this service is that MNR provides information and technical advice about resources to municipalities and other planning authorities. However, MNR does not review and comment to the municipal sector on planning documents (e.g., official plans) and planning applications (e.g., subdivision applications).
