This past month, OSPE’s Task Forces, comprised of engineering subject matter experts, have been hard at work preparing comprehensive responses to government consultations.
OSPE meets with the government regularly to keep the critical work and expertise of engineers top of mind. OSPE drafts timely submissions to ensure engineers’ key concerns and suggestions are recognized and discussed in the appropriate forums. By taking a non-partisan, evidence-based approach to advocacy, OSPE has become recognized as a trusted advisor to government and is regularly asked to provide input on policy, planning and budget decisions. OSPE’s continued success relies on our strong member base and the active involvement of our Task Force experts.
ERO 019-1340 Updating Ontario’s Water Quantity Management Framework
The Government of Ontario is proposing regulatory changes for managing water takings with the intent to protect the long-term sustainability of surface water and groundwater.
The Ministry’s proposal paper outlines four key areas for action:
- Establish clear provincial priorities of water use to guide decisions where there are competing demands for water.
- Update our approach to managing water takings in water quantity-stressed areas.
- Make water taking data, including data the ministry collects from permitted water takers, more accessible to the public.
- Give host municipalities more input into water bottling decisions.
Read OSPE’s full response HERE
ERO 019-1712 Environmental assessment modernization: amendment proposals for Class Environmental Assessments
The Government of Ontario has invited the proponents of Class Environmental Assessments (EAs) to propose changes to their Class EAs to better align study requirements with the potential for environmental impacts and eliminate duplication.
The proposed changes to Class EAs will help us to refocus our efforts on projects that have potential to impact the environment by:
- exempting low-impact projects
- aligning study requirements with the potential for impacts
Read OSPE’s full response HERE
ERO 019-2132 2021-2024 Conservation and Demand Management Framework
The Government of Ontario is proposing a CDM Framework that would, if approved, launch on January 1, 2021. The current proposal, if approved, would have the following characteristics:
Term: Four-year term from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2024, with a mid-term review at the end of 2022.
Delivery: The Framework would continue to be centrally delivered by the IESO with opportunities for anyone, including customers, LDCs and program delivery companies to propose cost-effective programs or projects that meet local or regional electricity system needs.
Objectives and customers served: Address limited system needs in near team in the most cost-effective manner while maintaining program delivery capacity in the province; and increase CDM investments in the second two years of the Framework (2023-24) to meet system needs that emerge through the 2020s.To be achieved by:
- Targeting provincial bulk system needs (primarily peak demand reductions) and local/regional system needs.
- Recognizing the wide availability of cost-effective residential energy efficient products, this Framework would focus on providing education and tools for residential customers to empower them to improve their energy efficiency.
Read OSPE’s full response HERE
