Several MNR Consultations

Posted on November 22, 2025

MNR Consultations – We strongly encourage operators to participate.

Ontario is proposing to modernize how public lands and natural resources are managed to make approval processes clearer and more efficient, while continuing to safeguard public health, safety, and sustainable management of natural resources. We highly recommend operators review the items listed and pay special attention to #4 – Public Lands Act proposals. Below, you will find a description of proposed initiatives under the Natural Resources Regulatory and Permit Reform:

 

1. Updates to the Renewable Energy on Crown Land Policy

Proposed changes to enable faster and clearer approval requirements and processes for renewable energy development on public lands. Key changes include:

  • Application Clarity: The proposed new policy would provide that if a contract is awarded by the Independent Electricity Systems Operator to an applicant that applied to use public lands, then those lands would not be available for other renewable energy projects and the Minister would only consider applications for compatible activities on the same public lands.
  • Commitments to Indigenous communities:
  • Continues the commitment to co-planning of waterpower projects within the Moose River Basin.
  • Reinforces the encouragement of economic benefits for Indigenous communities through renewable energy proposals for public lands.
  • Changes to the policy where new waterpower sites on public lands south of the Far North Act boundaries, and within the Northern Rivers and the Moose River Basin north of Highway 11 are proposed.
  • Administrative Revisions: Includes updates to policy name, ministry names, outdated references and terminology to reflect current structures and language.
  • Replace the Renewable energy project approvals and permitting requirements webpage with new procedural guidance.

2. Streamline Approvals under the Public Lands Act

  • Amend regulations under the Public Lands Act, including Ontario Regulation 161/17 (O. Reg. 161/17) and Ontario Regulation 239/13 (O. Reg. 239/13), to allow for equipment for mobile wind testing, geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations, and environmental monitoring, and short-term bridges without the need for written site-specific ministry authorization if the conditions in the regulations are followed, including registration.

3. Changes to Forest Legislation, Regulations, Processes and Forest Management Policy

Proposing changes to forest-related rules and permitting processes to make them more efficient, reduce unnecessary steps and support economic growth while continuing to manage Ontario’s forest responsibly and sustainably. MNR also welcomes input on the topics below at this early stage of development. If regulatory changes are proposed in the future, MNR will post an additional proposal on the ERO and/or Regulatory Registry and will consult as appropriate:

  • Forest Manuals
  • Permit to Remove
  • Compliance and Enforcement
  • Forest Resource Licences
  • Scaler’s Licences (renewal)
  • Forest Renewal Trust

Amendments to the Crown Forest Sustainability Act as part of Bill 56: Building a More Competitive Economy Act 2025

  • MNR sent a notification letter regarding the proposed amendments to the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994 included in Bill 56, Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 on October 20, 2025. On October 30, 2025, the Bill 56, Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 passed third reading and was sent for Royal Assent. Please find information about the status of bills on the Ontario legislative assembly website (Bills | Legislative Assembly of Ontario).

4. Unlocking Ontario’s Economic Potential

Proposing changes to modernize the management of Ontario’s public lands, waters and other resources. The goal is to unlock economic development opportunities by streamlining statutory and regulatory processes, updating policies, improving service delivery, and enhancing transparency. This initiative focuses on several key areas, including:

 

1. Improving the management of public lands under the Public Lands Act by:

  • Updating Crown Land Use Policies and enabling online submissions for requests for policy amendments,
  • Streamlining Occupation of and Dispositions of Interests in Public Lands by improving application and review requirements, and moving certain low-risk occupations to a permit-by-rule, or code of practice, approach,
  • Streamlining Work Permits and Restricted Area Permits by improving application requirements and moving low-risk activities to a permit-by-rule or code of practice approach,
  • Improving compliance and enforcement tools,
  • Providing better access to information to show where public lands and certain uses of land are located, and
  • Improving application forms related to Conditions of Dispositions, Consents and Reservations.

 

2. Allowing proponents to conduct non-lethal collection of fish and wildlife for scientific purposes under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.

3. Streamlining the way MNR approves dams and other in water works under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act

SUBMIT COMMENTS:

You can review and comment on each proposal through the Environmental Registry of Ontario until December 22, 2025. Written feedback may be submitted directly through the ERO notice.

NOTO Staff will be attending meetings with Government to discuss these proposals in more details. We strongly encourage members to take the time to review these proposal and to share with us any questions, comments or concerns they may have.

Back to all news