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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

DEM-3

Central Lake Ontario, Credit Valley, Toronto

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MMAH

Strategic

Specify Actions to be taken to implement plan or achieve its objectives

Future & Existing

In progress/some progress made

(i): Municipal Official Plans are required to conform with A Place to Grow, including the population and employment forecasts in Schedule 3 of the Plan, as well as the significant drinking water threat policies of applicable source water protection plans. Municipalities are required to demonstrate that the effluent discharges and water takings associated with the municipal water and wastewater systems and private communal water and wastewater systems will not negatively impact the quality and quantity of water. The Minister, in consultation with municipalities, will review the forecasts in Schedule 3 every 5 years, at minimum. A Place to Grow provides a consistent framework for water protection while building upon existing plans and policies, including source protection plans. Municipalities may consider the forecasts in Schedule 3 or such higher forecasts as are established by the applicable upper-or single-tier municipality through its municipal comprehensive review in conformity with the policies of A Place to Grow. (ii): A Place to Grow includes criteria for settlement area boundary expansions, including requirements for expansions to be informed by comprehensive water and wastewater master plans or equivalent and stormwater master plans or equivalent, as appropriate. Proposed expansions and associated water, wastewater and stormwater servicing would be planned and demonstrated to avoid, or if avoidance is not possible, minimize and mitigate any potential negative impacts on watershed conditions and the water resources system, including the quality and quantity of water. Additionally, proposed expansions are to avoid key hydrologic areas where possible. A Place to Grow states that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing will review the forecasts periodically in consultation with municipalities and may revise the schedule, where appropriate.

Policy Text:

Within a Tier 3 Water Budget vulnerable areas identified as having significant water quantity threats the Provincial Ministries specified below should undertake the following to ensure the provision and distribution of water supply for municipal population and employment growth forecasts does not create a new or increase an existing significant water quantity threat:

1) The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in consultation with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and any affected municipalities should use the Tier 3 Water Budget information and other data available, to ensure that municipal Official Plan growth forecasts and distributions will not result in creating or worsening a significant water quantity threat, given water quantity constraints identified in Tier 3 Water Budget model areas; and
2) The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing should take into consideration water quantity constraints identified through Tier 3 water budgets, and other data available, during its review of the population forecasts contained in the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, in consultation with relevant municipalities.

Timeline:
T-15: The policy shall be considered within 2 years from the date the Source Protection Plan takes effect.

Monitoring Text:

MON-4: The provincial ministry shall, by February 1 of each year, prepare and submit a report to the Source Protection Authority on the actions taken in the previous calendar year to achieve the outcomes of the source protection policy. Reporting shall include information related to the effectiveness of the policies in ensuring a threat ceases to be, or does not become significant, and any actions required to respond to a drinking water threat during the reporting period.