Actions in progress

Improve the transparency of the Ontario Municipal Board

Status: Action in progress

What we heard

The Ontario Municipal Board makes decisions that appear to favour business and political interests.

Our plan

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Ministry of the Attorney General are undertaking a review of the scope and effectiveness of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), aimed at improving the OMB’s role within the broader land use planning system. The government has introduced legislation that would, if passed, make transformative changes to the OMB. The proposed changes would:

  • give the public and elected officials a stronger voice in planning for growth and land use in their communities
  • replace the OMB with a new Local Planning Appeal Tribunal
  • establish a Local Planning Appeal Support Centre to provide legal and planning help to Ontarians
  • support clearer and more timely decision making
  • reduce the ability of the tribunal to overturn municipal decisions that adhere to the municipal official plans, provincial plans, and the Provincial Policy Statement
  • give municipal elected officials greater control over local planning, resulting in fewer decisions being appealed

Improve the accuracy of and access to online government maps

Status: Action in progress

What we heard

The government currently provides maps and geographic data that are not always accurate and up to date. This can lead businesses to make decisions with incomplete information, which could prove costly.

Our plan

The government remains committed to improving customer service and modernizing Ontario’s land registration system. ServiceOntario continues to enhance Ontario’s online land registration system for land related documents working with Teranet — the first jurisdiction in the world to provide such a system.

A Property Identification Number (PIN) is a unique identifier that is assigned to a parcel of land. The PIN maps available on the land registration system are intended to help identify PIN locations, including a list of adjacent properties or PINs, and are a resource to help search properties in the land registration system. Although PIN maps are regularly updated based on land survey data, they are not intended to replace land surveys as an accurate depiction of boundaries of individual properties and should never be relied upon in lieu of proper surveys.

Users can access PIN maps electronically through Teranet’s Terraview software. A new web version of this software, called Terraview Web, will begin rolling out in January 2018. Another web application, called OnLand, will be launched in phases starting late 2017 and will provide the public with online access to land registration records.

Along with working with Teranet and other industry partners to continue to add new information and surveys to the map database and improving the accuracy, ServiceOntario will continue to educate system users on the intended use of PIN maps. In addition, new features and improved accuracy will be introduced over time to the system.

Actions tracking

Streamline the land planning process for growing agribusinesses

Status: Action tracking

What we heard

Agricultural business owners who want to expand their existing operations face a complex web of regulations and significant costs.

These include regulations and reporting requirements related to:

  • site planning
  • nutrient management activities
  • species at risk
  • water drainage
  • land planning approvals

Our plan

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is working with other ministries on a number of initiatives to streamline requirements for agri-businesses looking to expand their business, as outlined in the food processing report.

The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) will review data collection process for using well water to water crops and provide details on monitoring and reporting by summer 2017.

MOECC will work with OMAFRA to review and create new resource materials on nutrient management plan requirements by 2018.

The 2014 Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) also supports agri-businesses by setting clear policy direction for land use planning. The PPS implementation support material includes guidelines designed to boost the rural economy that outline permitted uses in prime agricultural areas.

Under the current Provincial Coordinated Plan Review, the terminology, definitions and policy approaches of various provincial land use plans (including the Niagara Escarpment Plan) are being aligned to make sure they are interpreted consistently. Final plans for this review are anticipated for release in 2017.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMA) will work with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ontario Investment Office and others in 2017-18 to create a short navigation guide that includes best practices to help those developing land to navigate through the approvals process.

The MMA will identify and promote municipal best practices in approaches to expediting land use approvals.

Simplify site approval, building and zoning permit processes

Status: Action tracking

What we heard

The process for reviewing and approving zoning and building permits is complex, time consuming and costly for businesses waiting to start construction projects. The site plan approval process is also very slow, and affects Ontario’s ability to attract international investment.

Our plan

Under the current Provincial Coordinated Plan Review, the terminology, definitions and policy approaches of various provincial land use plans (including the Niagara Escarpment Plan) are being aligned to make sure they are consistent.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMA) will work with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ontario Investment Office and others in 2017-18 to create a short navigation guide that includes best practices to help those developing land to navigate through the approvals process.

The MMA will identify and promote municipal best practices in approaches to expediting land use approvals.

The Building Code (Division C, Table 1.3.1.3) already contains aggressive timelines for municipal building department decisions on complete building permit applications. These range from 10 days for houses to 30 days for large buildings over seven storeys high.

Building permit applicants who believe that the municipality has failed to make a decision on a complete building permit application within the regulated maximum timeframe may appeal to the Building Code Commission. Appeals to the Building Code Commission on these grounds must be heard within five business days.

Streamline building inspections

Status: Action tracking

What we heard

The need for multiple inspections at various stages of building development is not perceived as having any tangible benefits to businesses.

Our plan

The government continues to look at opportunities to streamline inspection processes and regulations while making sure we meet our responsibilities for public safety.

Ontario Building Code requirements are administered by municipal by-law officers. Requirements related to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code are administered by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). While there may be different inspectors who undertake compliance activities for this sector, each inspection has a different purpose (i.e., ESA inspectors review electrical wiring and municipal by-law officers review building code requirements).

In order to determine whether specific building components (e.g., structural elements, plumbing or heating and ventilation systems) comply with the Building Code, an inspector has to be able to physically view and inspect them.

The number and nature of construction inspections contained in the Building Code was developed in consultation with stakeholders in the building industry, and reflects when construction elements are typically installed and are still visible.

The ESA has been reviewing its processes to make improvements. Their five-year strategic plan incorporates new streamlined solutions, including implementing a risk-based approach to wiring inspections. The risk-based approach will identify the levels of electrical work as low-, medium- or high-risk. This will allow ESA inspectors to better prioritize their work so they can focus on inspections that pose the greatest risk to individual or public safety.

The ESA’s risk-based approach to wiring inspections will be implemented over the next three years, with completion by 2020.

No action recommended

Harmonize provincial building codes

Status: No action recommended

What we heard

Businesses operating across provincial boundaries need to be aware of and comply with different building code requirements in each province.

Our plan

Ontario maintains its own building code to ensure that it aligns with government priorities such as energy conservation and barrier-free accessibility. This also gives Ontario the flexibility to update the code to reflect changes in science and technology. In developing its building code, Ontario also considers best practices from other provinces. Where appropriate, Ontario’s code is harmonized with the model National Building Code of Canada. For these reasons, no further action will be taken.

Consider restoring professional design requirements in the Ontario Building Code Act

Status: No action recommended

What we heard

Removing professional design criteria from the Ontario Building Code Act has lowered service delivery standards and had a negative impact on the architecture and construction industries.

Our plan

The Architects Act and Professional Engineers Act already address the scope of professional design, so it would be duplicative to amend the building code to reflect professional design criteria.

In addition, Professional Engineers Ontario and the Ontario Association of Architects produce a joint bulletin on the scope of professional design for certain buildings regulated under their establishing legislation. This bulletin contains the information was previously included in the building code.