Environmental Policy & Ontario Greenbelt Lecture

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key environmental policy concepts, actors, institutions, and instruments discussed in the lecture, with an emphasis on Ontario’s Greenbelt and wetland protection case study.

Rational-Comprehensive Model

Idealized four-stage process of policy making: define the problem, assess policy options, implement the policy, and evaluate results.

Policy Cycle (Four Stages)

The sequential steps of defining a problem, evaluating options, implementing a decision, and conducting policy evaluation.

“Sausages & Public Policy” Quote

Humorous adage implying that both sausage making and public policy processes are messy and best not watched in detail.

Vested Interests

Individuals or groups with something to gain or lose from policy outcomes who actively try to shape decisions.

Science as a Delay Tactic

Strategy where stakeholders repeatedly question or re-interpret scientific findings to postpone regulatory action.

Environmentalists

Actors who advocate strong regulation and control to protect ecosystems and public health.

Industry Resistance

Tendency of businesses to oppose strict regulation and favour voluntary or market-based approaches.

NIMTO Factor

‘Not In My Term of Office’—politicians’ reluctance to take controversial actions that may harm short-term electoral prospects.

Political Will

The commitment of decision-makers to adopt and enforce a policy; considered crucial for environmental progress.

Incumbent Industries

Established companies with significant economic and political influence that can shape or block policy change.

Uncertainty in Policy Making

Difficulty of acting when scientific knowledge is incomplete or contested, yet yes/no decisions are required.

Jurisdictional Overlap

Situation where multiple levels of government share authority, complicating implementation (e.g., federal–provincial in Canada).

Winners and Losers

Recognition that policies benefit some groups while imposing costs on others, motivating opposition from ‘losers.’

Ideas (4I Framework)

Beliefs, values, and problem framings—such as ‘jobs vs. environment’—that shape policy debates.

Interests (4I Framework)

Stakeholders and their relative power or influence over policy outcomes.

Institutions (4I Framework)

Formal rules and decision-making structures—laws, jurisdictions, treaties—that govern policy processes.

Instruments (4I Framework)

Concrete policy tools such as regulations, taxes, subsidies, and decision-making aids (EIA, modelling).

Ontario Greenbelt

Protected area of farmland, forests, wetlands, and waterways surrounding the Greater Golden Horseshoe, established by the Greenbelt Act (2005).

Wetland Loss in Southern Ontario

Historical reduction of wetland area by up to 85 % (1800–2002) with continued losses between 2000 and 2011.

Stressors on Wetlands

Threats such as invasive species (e.g., phragmites), climate change, habitat loss, dredging, and shoreline alteration.

Ramsar Convention (1971)

International treaty committed to the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

Conservation Authorities Act (Ontario)

Provincial law empowering local authorities to manage watersheds and protect natural hazards and wetlands.

No Net Loss Policy

Principle that any unavoidable wetland destruction must be offset by restoration or creation elsewhere.

Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe

Ontario regional strategy (2006, updated 2017) guiding population growth, land use, and resource protection.

Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force (2022)

Panel report estimating Ontario needs 1.5–1.8 million new homes by 2030 to improve affordability.

Bill 23: More Homes Built Faster Act (2022)

Ontario legislation reducing Conservation Authorities’ role, limiting public appeals, and expediting development to increase housing supply.

Provincial Policy Statement (PPS)

Ontario-wide policy document expressing provincial interests that must be reflected in municipal planning decisions.

Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO)

Special provincial instrument allowing the minister to override local planning controls and rezone land quickly.

Civil Society

Non-governmental organizations, media, and citizens that mobilize public opinion and can force policy reversals.

Doug Ford Greenbelt Controversy

Debate over Ontario Premier’s plan to open parts of the Greenbelt for development, reversed in Sept 2023 after public backlash.

Wetland Conservation Strategy for Ontario (2017-2030)

Provincial framework outlining goals, policies, and actions to halt loss and improve health of wetlands.

Planning Act (Ontario)

Legislation establishing the legal basis for land-use planning, official plans, zoning bylaws, and development control.