BRIEF BY THE CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ASSOCIATION IN RESPONSE TO PROPOSED 2023 CHANGES TO THE PROVINCIAL POLICY STATEMENT

The concepts of healthy communities; social wellbeing; protection of ecological processes; and the overall concept of prevention should be restored to the PPS in the Vision and/or Preamble. [...] The specificity of the existing version of the PPS should be restored; including in particular to affordable house and housing for older persons; reference to efficient use of land close to settlement areas; reference to avoiding development and land use patterns which may cause environmental or public health and safety concerns. [...] Chapter 4.1 Natural Heritage CELA agrees with the restoration of the Natural Heritage policies to the PPS as announced by the province on June 16, 2023 in a revision to the proposed changes; and is therefore not providing detailed comment in this section. [...] CELA supports the addition of watershed language to this section, but the specificity of the language protecting functions and features is essential to retain in the PPS. [...] Chapter 7 – Definitions The definitions that were proposed to be deleted in the proposed changes should be restored where applicable to the sections of this submission in which CELA calls for restoration of existing language prior to any amendment and adoption of a revised PPS.