NEW EXPEDITED APPROVALS FOR WATER & WASTEWATER SERVICES

Ontario’s adoption of a Consolidated Linear Infrastructure (CLI) Permissions Approach for low-risk projects related to sewage collection and stormwater management is an absolute game changer for the residential construction industry and our ability to expedite the delivery of new housing supply.

The Ontario Home Builders’ Association has been engaged with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ modernization efforts, and our members have consistently supported streamlining the redundant Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) process for low-risk stormwater management facilities and routine sewage works.

Under the proposed consolidated process, a municipality would no longer need to submit individual “pipe by pipe” applications for future alterations, provided they are built in accordance with new design criteria and all other Ministry-approved conditions. In certain circumstances, and with municipal approval, developers constructing infrastructure on behalf of municipalities can receive pre-authorization if work meets Ministry design standards and is being carried out in accordance with the municipality’s CLI ECA.

The new approach will:

» create an efficient process for lowrisk projects.

» provide clear, transparent and consistent requirements. » improve environmental protection through updated and consolidated terms and conditions.

» establish a more comprehensive picture of sewage works across the province.

The CLI Permissions Approach has been modelled after the current framework for municipal drinking water systems. All existing and future approvals will be incorporated into two consolidated ECAs: one for municipal sanitary collection systems and the other for stormwater management works.

The first step in the transition will ask municipalities to apply for a CLI ECA, with the Ministry anticipating the first applications in September 2021.

“The decision to move forward with the updated ECA process for sanitary, storm and stormwater management systems will save months of time for each application by avoiding the current duplication of review required by the previous process,” says OHBA member and the principal of SCS Consulting Group, Steve Schaefer. “This new ECA approach will definitely expedite the ability to deliver homes in Ontario. This change in process is by far the biggest and most effective in provincial policy to reduce red tape and expedite home construction—while maintaining the required level of regulatory oversight—that I’ve seen in my 30+ years pursuing infrastructure approvals.”