Ontario. Ministry of the Environment (2002-2014)

• Ontario. Ministère de l'Environnement (2002-2014)

• Ministry of the Environment (2002-2014)

• MOE

• MEO

The Ministry of the Environment was re-formed following a period (April 15, 2002 to August 22, 2002) when it had merged briefly with the Energy Division of the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology to form the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The ministry ceased to exist in June 2014 when it was re-named the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

In its early existence, the ministry was comprised of 4 main divisions relating to its core functions: Drinking Water Management Division (protection and provision of safe drinking water); Environmental Sciences and Standards Division (science, technology and analytical programs, development of standards / guidelines, partnerships, environmental monitoring, and laboratory services); Integrated Environmental Planning Division (planning and policy development for issues including water management, air quality, climate change, land use, and waste management); and Operations Division (direct delivery of programs including via regional offices, investigations and enforcement, environmental assessments etc.). Agencies reporting to the ministry included the Environmental Review Tribunal, the Office of Consolidated Hearings, Ontario Clean Water Agency, and the Pesticides Advisory Committee.

By 2014, the ministry had undergone a number of changes, including the addition of the Environmental Programs Division. This division contained several new program areas including the Aboriginal Affairs Branch, Environmental Innovations Branch, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Project. The Integrated Environmental Policy Division had been renamed the Integrated Environmental Planning Division, and included a unit dealing with cap and trade. The Environmental Sciences and Standards Division had added a Great Lakes Monitoring Unit and Sport Fish and Biomonitoring Unit. The Operations Division also included a new Spills Action Centre.

Agencies reporting to the ministry at this time included the Advisory Council on Drinking Water Quality and Testing Standards, the Ontario Clean Water Agency, the Pesticides Advisory Committee, and the Walkerton Clean Water Centre.

The Ministry of the Environment was the lead ministry responsible for restoring, protecting and enhancing the environment to ensure public health and environmental quality. The ministry set policies, standards, rules and regulations to protect the environment and encourage conservation activities. Along with monitoring the environment and enforcing these rules, the ministry aimed to find innovative approaches to complement legislation and regulations for which it was responsible.

The Ministry of the Environment carries out its duties through the following four functions: Environmental Monitoring, Research and Analysis; Environmental Protection Policies and Standards Development; Environmental Inspection, Investigation and Enforcement; Environmental Conservation and Stewardship, and Management of Aboriginal Affairs Related to the Environment.

Ministry of the Environment Act, R.S.O., 1990

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Government of Ontario telephone books, KWIK indexes, E-laws website.

Archivist(s):
Shimpo