Draft 2041 Northern Ontario Multimodal Transportation Strategy

HTML documents:

• Draft 2041 Northern Ontario Multimodal Transportation Strategy (July 2017)
• Draft 2041 Northern Ontario Multimodal Transportation Strategy: Executive Summary (July 2017)

Download PDF documents:

• Draft 2041 Northern Ontario Multimodal Transportation Strategy (July 2017) (PDF 11 MB)
• Draft 2041 Northern Ontario Multimodal Transportation Strategy: Executive Summary (July 2017) (PDF 1 MB)
• Oji-Cree: ᐱᓇᒪ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᐣ 2041 ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᓇᓇᑲ ᐱᒥᔭᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᐧᐁᐧᓇᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ
  (PDF 11 MB)
• Oji-Cree: ᐱᓇᒪ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᐣ 2041 ᑭᐁᐧᑎᓄᐠ ᐅᐣᑌᕑᐃᔪ ᓇᓇᑲ ᐱᒥᔭᐃᐧᐣ ᐊᐧᐁᐧᓇᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᑭᒪᐃᐧᐣ ᑎᐸᒋᒧᐃᐧᐣ
  (PDF 1 MB)

This draft 2041 Northern Ontario Multimodal Transportation Strategy (the draft Strategy) was developed to guide transportation policy, program and investment opportunities for a modern and sustainable transportation system in northern Ontario.

The draft Strategy sets out a vision and five goals to improve and transform the transportation system of northern Ontario over the next 25 years. The goals are supported by 37 directions to guide the creation of the multimodal transportation system of the future. These directions build upon the solid foundation of today’s system, and the significant investments made in northern Ontario infrastructure and programming to date.

MTO and MNDM are considering public comments and feedback on the goals and directions included in this document, to inform work towards the final Strategy and Action Plans.

Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of agencies involved in the governance of northern Ontario with respect to transportation are described below. For more detailed information about governance, policy and funding, please refer to the Draft Phase 1 Report, The Northern Ontario Context: Implications and Considerations for Strategy Development (May 2016) at www.nomts.ca.

The Province of Ontario has significant responsibility for matters relating to transportation and land use planning through a number of ministries.

Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has responsibility for primary highways, as well as for secondary highways in non-incorporated areas beyond the jurisdiction of municipalities and Local Roads Boards. MTO also owns and funds 29 remote airports in the Far North, and licenses shortline railways.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMA) has land use planning and regulation responsibilities in northern Ontario. These include issuing policy governing land use planning, approving municipal official plans and working with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) to develop overarching plans such as The Growth Plan for Northern Ontario 2011, to which all municipal plans must conform.

The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) is responsible for Northern roads. This includes the following:

• Identifying priorities for, and funding expansion and rehabilitation of provincial highways through the Northern Highways Program
• Funding of unincorporated roads including Local Roads Boards
• Administering the Winter Roads Program with funding support from the federal department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).

MNDM is also responsible for the oversight of two provincial transportation agencies—the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) and the Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC). The ONTC provides bus and rail services within northeastern Ontario with linkages to other areas of the province (e.g., Southern Ontario). The OSTC provides ferry services between Tobermory and South Baymouth and between Moosonee and Moose Factory. The Province, through MNDM, provides operating and capital support for ONTC and OSTC services.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is responsible for land use planning on, and management of Crown lands under the Public Lands Act as well as the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, and works jointly with First Nation communities to prepare land use plans for the Far North on Ontario under the Far North Act, 2010. Land use plans developed under the Far North Act, 2010 take precedence over other growth plans that may conflict, including the province’s Growth Plan for Northern Ontario 2011.

Indigenous communities and organizations have a central role in planning in Ontario. Under the Far North Act, 2010, the MNRF works with First Nations who indicate an interest in initiating planning, to prepare and jointly approve community based land use plans that clarify where development can occur and where land is dedicated to protection.

There are several different forums and organizations that represent the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples in Ontario.

Please refer to the Draft Phase 1 Report, The Northern Ontario Context: Implications and Considerations for Strategy Development (May 2016) at www.nomts.ca for additional detail.

There are 144 municipalities in northern Ontario. Territory outside municipal boundaries—a majority of the land in northern Ontario—is unincorporated.

Municipalities in Ontario are directly responsible for the land use, infrastructure and municipal services within their boundaries, including transportation. They plan, deliver and regulate municipal roads and transit systems. Municipalities create official plans and by-laws, and approve new developments.

There are varying degrees to which municipalities in the north have been delegated planning approvals for developments. For example, MMA approves consents and subdivisions in Hornepayne. There are also areas outside of municipal boundaries that are covered by Planning Boards that have varying levels of planning approvals.

The federal government’s primary transportation role is regulation. It does not have direct control over land use planning other than for federal lands. Federal regulations include statutes relating to air transportation, railway safety, marine port regulations, the transportation of dangerous goods and border crossing facilities.

The introduction of the First Nations Land Management Act allows First Nation communities to apply to opt out of the land related sections of the Indian Act and assume jurisdiction over their respective reserve lands and resources under their own land code. Successful applicants to join the First Nations Land Management regime assume the administration of all land related issues, including the authority to enact land-related laws and manage the environment and resources. First Nations with direct control over their reserve lands and resources under this framework have reported increased opportunity for investment and economic development10. At least five northern Ontario First Nations are currently administering their own land codes under this framework, with additional communities in the process of developing their own codes.

Comment:

Hmmmm...... Interesting.  I wonder who these five communities are?  Gee...Could they be the five involved directly with the Ring of Fire?  I wonder.