In Ontario, wise and appropriate management of non-renewable sources is directed by a policy-led land use planning system. The Provincial Policy Statement, issued under the authority of the Planning Act, presents those policies that the Government of Ontario has developed to “support a comprehensive, integrated, and long-term approach to planning…” (PPS 2014), and which apply to archaeological resources, built heritage resources, cultural heritage landscapes, natural heritage systems, water resources, mineral aggregate resources, and agricultural areas. Accordingly, municipal and regional planning decisions shall be consistent with this provincial direction, and official plans function as the primary tool for implementing provincial policy direction in this context.
Other key Provincial plans that provide land-use planning direction are those established under the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act, the Ontario Planning and Development Act, 1994, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001, the Greenbelt Act, 2005 and the Places to Grow Act, 2005.
ASI is routinely invited to provide comment on municipal, regional, and provincial policy updates as an industry leader in this area. Most recently, our policy development work completed as part of the City of Toronto Official Plan Review won the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals Award of Excellence in 2013.
Our specialities include:
- Official Plan policy development
- Development of policies and guidelines for special planning areas, including Secondary Plan areas and heritage conservation districts
- Comparative public policy research and evaluation, assessing best practices in different jurisdictions
- Consultation program development and implementation
- Training program development and execution to support policy implementation and delivery