On July 8, 2020, the Ontario Government proposed significant amendments to the Environmental Assessment Act ("EAA") included in the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020 ("Bill 197"). The changes stem from the Government's Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan released by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks ("MECP") in November 2018 as well as a discussion paper, "Modernizing Ontario's Environmental Assessment Program", released in April 2019.
The COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020 received Royal Assent less than two weeks later on July 21, 2020. Most of the amendments to the Environmental Assessment Act, set out in Schedule 6 of Bill 197 and set out below will take effect on a day to be proclaimed by the Lieutenant Governor. The purpose of the EAA remains for the betterment of the people of Ontario by providing for the protection, conservation and wise management of the environment. However, the EAA will change in significant ways.
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