Ontario government yesterday announced it has invested over $925,000 in two projects led by conservation organizations to restore and enhance wetlands in the City of Pickering.
These projects are among hundreds of local wetlands restoration projects that are helping to improve water quality, help prevent flooding and build climate resiliency, said a provincial statement.
“I am very proud that Ontario is partnering with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters to restore and enhance the health of wetlands in Pickering,” said Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “Wetlands are vital ecosystems and we will continue to support projects that ensure they are protected, now and in the future.”
The Wetlands Conservation Partner Program represents one of the largest investments in wetland restoration in Ontario’s history. The five-year, $30-million program supports a wide range of projects, restoring and enhancing large-scale wetlands, smaller wetlands on agricultural lands, and wetlands in more urban areas as part of municipal stormwater management.
As part of this program, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) received over $585,000 in 2023 to restore a wetland at a previous aggregate extraction site in the Brock North Headwater Wetland Complex area of Pickering that will improve water drainage in this important ecological area. Restoration of this area will also improve habitat for fish and wildlife, including Atlantic salmon and brook trout, and will provide future recreational opportunities for the public.
In 2022, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) received approximately $340,000 to restore swamp habitat and transform the old aggregate extraction site in the Brock North area into a natural heritage and recreational destination. Restoration activities at the project site included adding soil, reshaping the landscape and planting native species to restore its natural drainage patterns and swamp habitat. The project is complete and the site is ready for visitors.
Ontario winding back changes to official plans
Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said he “will be introducing legislation that would reverse the official plan decisions for Barrie, Belleville, Guelph, Hamilton, Ottawa and the City of Peterborough, the Regional Municipalities of Halton, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York, as well as Wellington County.”
He said since becoming Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, “I have made it a priority to review past decisions, including minister’s zoning orders and official plans, to ensure that they support our goal of building at least 1.5 million homes in a manner that maintains and reinforces public trust.
“In reviewing how decisions were made regarding official plans, it is now clear that they failed to meet this test.”
The new legislation would wind back provincial changes to official plans and official plan amendments, except in circumstances where construction has begun or where doing so would contravene existing provincial legislation and regulation. This includes winding back changes to urban boundaries.
“To ensure that the reset plans match our shared ambitions to build more homes, especially now that municipalities have made their housing pledges, we will be asking impacted municipalities to submit changes and updates to those plans to ministry staff within 45 days of today [October 23], including information on projects that are already underway,” the minister said.
“In recognition of the costs incurred by municipalities arising out of this decision, the province will work with impacted municipalities to assist with related planning and staffing costs,” he added.