Please find attached the…

Please find attached the Region’s submission on the New regulation to focus municipal environmental assessment requirements (ERO 019-7891 and ORR Proposal Number:23-MECP025).

Peel Region appreciates and welcomes the proposed new regulation and process regarding municipal EA requirements as it would support the delivery of critical public works infrastructure faster to help meet provincial housing targets and address pressure from the development community. While generally supportive, Peel Region staff have some general comments largely regarding the proposed Municipal Project Assessment Process (MPAP) not applying to certain projects, which have implications for environmental protection and oversight, climate change, and stakeholder engagement and consultations. For projects not subjected to the MPAP, Peel Region staff would still carry its due diligence on sound engineering, apply a climate lens (in alignment with its Master Climate Change Plan) and consult with residents.

It's important that the proposed MPAP maintains adequate environmental protection and oversight, public consultation and application of a climate change lens for particular high impact projects not on the streamlined list. In our review of the proposal, there appears to be a lack of consultation and transparency with projects not subject to the MPAP. Moreover, there are many impactful municipal infrastructure projects excluded from the project list, which could have significant environmental and financial implications.