2: Environmental Assessment process

What is an Environmental Assessment?

An Environmental Assessment (EA) is the provincial planning process for public infrastructure projects in Ontario.
EAs are governed by the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.
EAs provide a framework for assessing the impacts of a project on the natural, socio-economic and cultural environments. Decision making and project outcomes are influenced by feedback provided by the public, stakeholders and Indigenous communities.

What is a Class EA?

Class EAs set out a standardized and streamlined planning process for activities that are carried out routinely and have predictable environmental effects that can be readily managed.

About the EA process

The Public Work Class EA will be followed for the Ontario Place redevelopment project and is being conducted as a Category C undertaking. It focuses on provincial government realty and infrastructure projects.
The Category C EA study area includes the lands on-site that are subject to the Environmental Assessment Act and is defined as the area where government-led activities will occur. Private sector (tenant) developments are not subject to the EA process as the Environmental Assessment Act is the planning framework for public sector developments.

A site map of Ontario Place showing the area subject to the Category C EA highlighted in yellow and a dotted line showing the redevelopment area — Note: This map is an approximate depiction of the land areas and is subject to change.

The planning framework that applies to private sector (tenant) developments is the Planning Act and the municipal planning process. The private sector developments will be required to secure zoning and site plan approval, as well as meet all the federal, provincial and municipal environmental permits and approvals.
All government-led activities supporting the Ontario Place redevelopment are included in the Category C EA process, including:

Graphic containing a bench, two trees and the sun — Public Realm and Landscape Design

Graphic of a shoreline — Shoreline Restoration and Protection

Graphic of a house with water below — Flood Mitigation

Graphic of water pouring out of a watering can — Remediation and Soil Management

Any New Public Buildings and Structures

Graphic of a two lane road — Supporting Infrastructure

Graphic of a tap with a drop of water coming out of the spout — Service Modernization

The Category C EA process includes: 

Consideration and assessment of alternative concepts;
Evaluation and selection of a preferred design;
Development of mitigation and monitoring measures;
Mandatory consultation at key milestones; and
Documentation in a comprehensive Environmental Study Report (ESR).

Where we are in the Category C EA process:

The Category C EA for Ontario Place is expected to run from early 2022 through to mid-2023 and is comprised of 5 key steps, as shown below.
Our current stage of the Category C EA process is the development and assessment of design concepts, as shown in the process flowchart below. This stage tests different design concepts against a set of evaluation criteria that considers the natural, social, cultural, technical and economic environments, as well as sustainability. The concepts included in this engagement event (i.e., Engagement Event #2) are not final design and are only used for illustrative purposes, to inspire feedback and inform the creation of a final preferred landscape plan.
Completion of the Category C EA is required before major construction for the development of new parks and public spaces can be implemented on site.

Graphic showing the design process at the top with five steps left to right: public realm visioning; conceptual design options; evaluation process and recommended design; confirmation of preferred design; and project implementation. Below is the EA process with text boxes and connecting arrows showing the order of steps and which ones occur at the same time as the design process steps. Under the public realm visioning, the EA steps in order are: identify the problem and/or opportunity; consultation program design; environmental assessment land and notice of commencement; describe existing conditions and engagement event number 1. Under conceptual design options, the EA steps are: identify alternative methods of carrying out the undertaking (design options), and engagement event number two which also reads "we are here". Under evaluation process and recommended design, the EA steps are: evaluate alternatives and identify preferred alternative; Engagement event number three; and refine design and develop management and monitoring programs. Under confirmation of preferred design, the EA steps are: confirm preferred design; draft environmental study report (ESR); release notice of completion and ESR for public review; and Engagement event number four. Under project implementation, the EA steps are: ESR modifications; and project implementation/construction start.

Public engagement

The Category C EA will use public and stakeholder input to assess impacts and identify preferred mitigation measures.
Public engagement began in Fall 2021 and will be continuing throughout 2022 and 2023.
Summary reports for each event and feedback received will be prepared and posted on the project website and will be documented in the ESR.

Diagram of 4 circles in a line with arrows between them pointing right. The first circle reads: Engagement event number one; April 2022; EA launch and public realm design visioning. The second circle reads: Engagement event number two; Fall 2022; feedback, public realm design options and evaluation criteria. The third circle reads: engagement event number three; Spring 2023; feedback, evaluation process and recommended public realm design. The fourth circle reads: Engagement event number 4; later summer or early fall 2023; review of ESR conclusion and update on implementation.