PART I PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Policy statements
3 (1) The Minister, or the Minister together with any other minister of the Crown, may from time to time issue policy statements that have been approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on matters relating to municipal planning that in the opinion of the Minister are of provincial interest.  R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, s. 3 (1). Approval of Minister, etc. (1.1) A policy statement may require an approval or determination by the Minister, any other minister of the Crown or multiple ministers of the Crown for any of the matters provided for in the policy statement. 2017, c. 23, Sched. 3, s. 3. Minister to confer (2) Before issuing a policy statement, the Minister shall confer with such persons or public bodies that the Minister considers have an interest in the proposed statement.  1994, c. 23, s. 6 (1). Notice (3) If a policy statement is issued under subsection (1), the Minister shall cause it to be published in The Ontario Gazette and shall give such further notice of it, in such manner as the Minister considers appropriate, to all members of the Assembly and to any other persons or public bodies that the Minister considers have an interest in the statement.  1994, c. 23, s. 6 (1). Idem (4) Each municipality that receives notice of a policy statement under subsection (3) shall in turn give notice of the statement to each local board of the municipality that it considers has an interest in the statement.  R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, s. 3 (4). Policy statements and provincial plans (5) A decision of the council of a municipality, a local board, a planning board, a minister of the Crown and a ministry, board, commission or agency of the government, including the Tribunal, in respect of the exercise of any authority that affects a planning matter, (a) subject to a regulation made under subsection (6.1), shall be consistent with the policy statements issued under subsection (1) that are in effect on the date of the decision; and (b) shall conform with the provincial plans that are in effect on that date, or shall not conflict with them, as the case may be.  2006, c. 23, s. 5; 2017, c. 23, Sched. 5, s. 80; 2023, c. 10, Sched. 6, s. 2 (1). Same (6) Comments, submissions or advice affecting a planning matter that are provided by the council of a municipality, a local board, a planning board, a minister or ministry, board, commission or agency of the government, (a) subject to a regulation made under subsection (6.1), shall be consistent with the policy statements issued under subsection (1) that are in effect on the date the comments, submissions or advice are provided; and (b) shall conform with the provincial plans that are in effect on that date, or shall not conflict with them, as the case may be.  2006, c. 23, s. 5; 2023, c. 10, Sched. 6, s. 2 (2). Minister’s regulations re transition (6.1) The Minister may make regulations providing for transitional matters which, in the opinion of the Minister, are necessary or desirable to facilitate the implementation of a policy statement issued under subsection (1), other than a policy statement deemed under subsection (8) to be a policy statement issued under subsection (1). 2023, c. 10, Sched. 6, s. 2 (3). Same (6.2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (6.1), a regulation under that subsection may, (a) provide for transitional matters respecting matters, applications and proceedings that were commenced before or after a policy statement comes into effect; (b) provide that the policy statement being implemented does not apply, in whole or in part, to specified matters, applications and proceedings or providing that a previous policy statement continues to apply, in whole or in part, to the specified matters, applications and proceedings; (c) deem a matter, application or proceeding to have been commenced on the date or in the circumstances described in the regulations. 2023, c. 10, Sched. 6, s. 2 (3). Duties of Minister unaffected (7) Except as provided in subsections (5) and (6), nothing in this section affects nor restricts the Minister in carrying out the Minister’s duties and responsibilities under this Act.  1996, c. 4, s. 3. Deemed policy statements (8) Each of the following is deemed to be a policy statement issued under subsection (1): 1. A policy statement issued under section 31.1 of the
Metrolinx Act, 2006. 2. A policy statement issued under section 11 of the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016. 3. A policy or statement that is prescribed for the purpose of this subsection. 2017, c. 23, Sched. 3, s. 3. Exceptions (9) Subsections (1.1), (2), (3) and (10) do not apply to a policy or statement that is deemed by subsection (8) to be a policy statement issued under subsection (1). 2017, c. 23, Sched. 3, s. 3. Review (10) The Minister shall, at least every 10 years from the date that a policy statement is issued under subsection (1), ensure that a review of the policy statement is undertaken for the purpose of determining the need for a revision of the policy statement.  1994, c. 23, s. 6 (3); 2015, c. 26, s. 14. Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 1994, c. 23, s. 6 (1, 3) - 28/03/1995; 1996, c. 4, s. 3 - 22/05/1996; 1998, c. 15, Sched. E, s. 27 (1, 2) - 01/04/1999 2004, c. 18, s. 2
- 01/03/2005 2006, c. 23, s. 5
- 01/01/2007 2015, c. 26, s. 14
- 03/12/2015 2017, c. 23, Sched. 3, s. 3 - 03/04/2018; 2017, c. 23, Sched. 5, s. 80 - 03/04/2018 2023, c. 10, Sched. 6, s. 2 (1-3) - 08/06/2023