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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

On October 20, 2024, the Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) 2024 came into effect and A Place to Grow, the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe was revoked. Municipal official plans are required to be consistent with the PPS 2024, including to plan for population and employment growth based on the Ministry of Finance projections or may continue to use population and employment forecasts previously issued by the Province. Ministry of Finance projections are updated every year. The PPS 2024 requires the large and fast-growing municipalities listed in Schedule 1 of the PPS 2024 to undertake watershed planning to inform planning for sewage and water services and stormwater management, including low impact development, and the protection, improvement or restoration of the quality and quantity of water. All municipalities undertaking watershed planning are encouraged to do so in collaboration with applicable conservation authorities. In reviewing municipal official plans and official plan amendments under Section 26 of the Planning Act, MMAH reviews the official plan or amendment to ensure consistency with the PPS and consults with other provincial ministries including the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks., on matters including policies related to the protection of municipal drinking water supplies and designated vulnerable areas. Within the Greenbelt Plan area, the water resource policies in the Greenbelt Plan continue to apply. Additionally, the policies of A Place to Grow the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Provincial Policy Statement 2020 continue to apply where the Greenbelt Plan refers to them to maintain existing protections for the Greenbelt. For example, the Greenbelt Plan requires that decisions on the allocation of growth and water-related infrastructure shall be informed by applicable watershed planning in accordance with the Growth Plan. In reviewing municipal official plans and official plan amendments under Section 26 of the Planning Act, MMAH reviews all municipal official plan policies to ensure conformity with provincial plans, including the Greenbelt Plan.

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.