The Honourable John Gerretsen Minister of the Environment

New Environmental Assessment Process for Transit Projects

Remarks made at Metrolinx Board Meeting, March 28, 2008

Thank you, Rob. (Rob MacIsaac - Chair of Metrolinx)

I’m glad to have an opportunity to address your board today.

As you know, Ontario is putting a high priority on measures to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by investing in public transit.

Our $17.5 billion MoveOntario 2020 plan for transit expansion across the GTA and Hamilton will go a long way in helping us meet our targets for greenhouse gas reductions … six per cent below 1990 levels by 2014 … 15 per cent by 2020.

These targets are ambitious but realistic.

But, in order to get there, we need to move public transit forward in Ontario.

Getting more people out of their cars will help clear our air, reduce greenhouse gases and help reduce congestion.

Enhanced transit will also benefit our economy by moving goods and services more easily across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region.

That is why we have taken the necessary steps to accelerate the environmental assessment process for transit projects.

Just this morning we posted a draft regulation on the Environmental Registry for public comment — it would allow these assessments to be completed in six months.

In the past, transit projects could take up to three years to move through the environmental assessment process.

Often the process involved going over the same questions and concerns that had already been addressed in other public consultations.

Today, I’d like to outline for you what the new regulation will involve.

The primary changes to EA requirements for transit will remove the requirement to demonstrate the need for a project and to look at options other than transit.

While the regulation does not explicitly require this, it is expected that broad planning — such as your agency’s regional transportation plan —will further establish the need for good public transit in Ontario. It will also help set transit priorities for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas.

The regulation in no way reduces the importance of that type of planning; it will only help municipalities and other transit authorities to move through the new process.

The new regulation will also create shortened timelines. Consultation and document preparation will be completed within 120 days; public review of documentation will be 30 days and MOE decisions will now be 35 days.

Projects that are already in the EA pipeline would have the ability to transition into the new process.

Although moving to a six month timetable is considerably accelerated, it will still allow those people who want to comment on environmental issues for transit projects a reasonable window of opportunity to do so.

In addition, Metrolinx’s Regional Transportation Plan would be exempted by the regulation.

And any planning related to transit by other public bodies, including municipalities, will also be exempted.

I would like to assure you we’ve spent a lot of time discussing different ways to accelerate the EA process. And I believe this proposed regulation is the most effective way to achieve the goals of the government — an efficient EA process for transit that protects the environment.

The approach we are taking with this regulation is consistent with the approaches we have taken with the waste and electricity sectors.

I am confident that the environmental assessment act gives us the authority to make such a regulation

This is not about lessening environmental protections … it’s about taking a responsible approach to cutting some of the red tape and getting transit projects off the drawing board and into the works.

Clearly, having more options for public transit is good for our environment.

It’s also good for our quality of life by helping clear the air and giving people a convenient choice when they want to leave their cars at home.

Through the Environmental Bill of Rights registry, we are consulting publicly on our proposed changes to improve transit in Ontario.

Consultations with municipalities, EA practitioners and transit authorities are currently ongoing.

Everyone has a role to play in tackling climate change.

Better transit gives people more opportunity to make small changes that can make a big difference in reducing their carbon footprint.

Our government is firmly committed to make the necessary investments to help us protect and improve our environment.

Better, more efficient and more extensive transit options are going to go a long way in making Ontario greener, healthier and more successful.

Thank you.