Archaeology of Ontario

[3] Under the Ontario Heritage Act, the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism holds the "responsibility to determine policies, priorities and programs for the conservation, protection and preservation of the heritage of Ontario and so fills the lead provincial government role in terms of direct conservation and protection of cultural resources.

[8][9] The Ontario Heritage Act describes the roles of inspectors, who are province appointed individuals who can be qualified in archaeology or accompanied by experts, who are implemented when suspicion arises during an excavation that is related harming or threatening the publics interests.

[13]Powers of inspector (4) While carrying out an inspection, an inspector may, (a) take up and examine any artifact, device, article, thing or material; (b) require a person at the place being inspected to produce any artifact, drawing, field notes, specifications, license, document, record, report, photograph, video or other visual recording or any other material or thing that is relevant to the inspection and examine, audit or make copies of such material or things; (c) upon giving a receipt therefore, remove, for the purpose of making copies or extracts, any material or thing referred to in clause (b); (d) conduct tests at the place being inspected or take samples from the place, including tests conducted on, or samples taken from, artifacts found at the place; (e) require in writing that any test or sample referred to in clause (d) be conducted or taken by a person specified by the inspector, including a person having special, expert or professional knowledge or qualifications accompanying the inspector under subsection (6); (f) require the person conducting or taking tests or samples to provide a report to the inspector within such time as the inspector may specify; (g) take photographs, video or other visual recording, make acoustic recordings or make notes of the field or site conditions, of the conditions of any other place being inspected or of the artifacts or materials found at the place and take with him or her such equipment or recording materials required for this purpose; (h) make such inquiries of any person working at the place being inspected as are relevant to the inspection; (i) observe on-going field work being carried out on an archaeological site or on other lands on which archaeological fieldwork is carried out or observe laboratory work taking place in a laboratory;

[14]The Environmental Assessment Act was created in 1976, to help to "provide for the protection, conservation, and wise management of Ontario's environment"[15] which relates to all aspects of determining the ecological, cultural, economic and social impact of a project.

The environmental assessments are conducted so to help with planning process and provide better knowledge about the site before development and decisions on projects are created.

[17][18] An environment assessment is conducted after the terms of reference is approved which relates to a general proposal of a project and preliminary involvement and cooperation with organizations and communities that will be affected by the development.

The environmental assessment is the proposal after the terms of reference which provides the results of the organizers planning and decision-making process.

[19] This provides identification and evaluation of alternative solutions to their location if problems arise, their environmental effects on the land and community, the impact mitigation and management measures on the environment, and "record of consultation with the public, Aboriginal communities and government agencies [which] is mandatory.

[23] Municipalities are in charge of setting out the rules and regulation to control zoning by-laws as well as must accord with all Provincial interests and plans about development.

"[25] Under the Planning Act, the significance for "archaeological resources are defined as those 'that are valued for the important contribution they make to our understanding of the history of a place, an event, or a people.'

The identification and evaluation of such resources are based upon archaeological fieldwork undertaken in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act.

If a municipality has a sound basis in its policies (Official Plan), it is possible to refuse applications that do not conform to heritage requirements.

The process for addressing archaeological concerns within the Aggregate Resources Act is similar to that for Planning Act- related projects.