Public Notices

The Manitoulin Planning Board hosted a public information session for the creation of a Natural Heritage System Strategy (NHSS) at the Mindemoya Community Centre at 6032 Highway 542 on Wednesday, August 21^st, 2019 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A summary of the meeting is available below.

Link - Natural Heritage Information Session Summary

The Planning Board hired a consultant to review the policies of a 1st draft Natural Heritage System Strategy (NHSS). The report prepared by the consultant is available below.

Link - Natural Heritage System Policy Review

November 10^th, 2021

The Manitoulin Planning Board also hosted an electronic Public Information Session for the Natural Heritage System Strategy (NHSS) on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at the Planning Board Office, 40 Water Street, Gore Bay, Ontario. The presentation that was made at the meeting, as well as draft mapping showing candidate core areas, open space areas, and linkages identified from existing available Natural Heritage feature mapping are available below.

Link - Manitoulin Natural Heritage System - Presentation

November 22^nd, 2022

A Public Meeting was held at the Planning Board Office, 40 Water Street, in Gore Bay, Ontario on November 22^nd, 2022, to consider the adoption of an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) for a draft Area-Wide Natural Heritage System Strategy (NHSS) for the District of Manitoulin. The OPA was not adopted at this meeting.

Link - Notice of Meeting

Link - November 15th 2022 - Draft Policy Text for the Natural Heritage System Strategy

Link - November 15th 2022 - Draft Schedule F - Natural Heritage System map for the Natural Heritage System Strategy

Link - Excerpts from Minutes of Planning Board Meeting November 22, 2022

January 31^st, 2023

The Manitoulin Planning Board adopted Official Plan Amendment (OPA), No. A-3, for an Area-Wide Natural Heritage System Strategy, (as amended from November 22^nd, 2022) at the Meeting of Planning Board held on Tuesday, January 31st, 2023. The Notice of Adoption as well as the OPA No. A-3 for the NHSS (January 2023 version) are found below.

Link - Notice of Adoption - OPA No. A-3 - NHSS

Link - Natural Heritage System Strategy Text
Link - Natural Heritage System - Mapping (Schedule F)

July 11^th, 2024

All member municipalities supported the OPA, No. A-3 and the NHSS was forwarded to the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) for their review and approval.

November 19^th, 2024

The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) reviewed the NHSS and sent back an amended version of the as shown in the red text, as well as the ‘amended version of Schedule F’ (map). (17 pages in total) is found below.

Link - DRAFT Natural Heritage System Strategy (NHSS) - Text and Schedule F - Amended November 19, 2024

The amended version of the NHSS was reviewed by Municipal Councils as well as the Manitoulin Planning Board for consideration of adoption. However, the majority of the municipalities did not support the amended version. Therefore, the amended version of NHSS was not adopted by the Manitoulin Planning Board.

December 22^nd, 2025

The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) advised by email/letter that the Manitoulin Planning Board is required under Modification No.21 to the Official Plan, approved by the Ministry on October 28^th, 2018 that:

‘ Within the three years after the approval of the Official Plan, the Manitoulin Planning Board shall prepare an Area-Wide Natural Heritage System Strategy (NHSS).’

And (in part)

‘ Please advise the ministry of the planning board’s next steps, including timing, towards the adoption of a PPS-consistent official plan amendment and subsequent submission to the ministry for a decision.'

MMAH advised that each of the eight member municipalities will need to hold a separate individual Public Meeting to adopt the original NHSS (January 2023). Therefore, as required under the Planning Act, and as instructed by MMAH, all eight member municipalities will hold a Public Meeting to re-adopt Official Plan Amendment (OPA), No. A-3. A copy of the Ministry’s letter is found below.

Link - Letter - December 22 2025 - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

A copy of the Municipal Public Meeting dates are found below.

May 2026 - Municipal Public Meeting Dates as proposed:

Billings Tuesday, June 16^th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Notice of Public Meeting - Click Here

Assiginack Tuesday, June 16^th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Notice of Public Meeting - Click Here

Tehkummah Tuesday, June 30^th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. (Tentative- may change)

Gore Bay Monday, June 22^nd, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Central Manitoulin Thursday, June 25^th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

Gordon Tuesday, July 7^th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Burpee-Mills Tuesday, July 7^th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

Cockburn Island Wednesday, July 8^th, 2026 via ZOOM at 4:30 p.m.

Notices will be available on the individual municipal websites and in the chart above (as they become available) and the OPA No. A-3 will be available for inspection at the Municipal Offices as well as the Manitoulin Planning Board Office.

The Manitoulin Planning Board will be holding another Public Meeting at a later date (tentatively August 2026) to consider re-adopting the original NHSS (2023) for the District of Manitoulin, including the Unincorporated Townships of Robinson and Dawson.

If you have any comments or concerns or recommendations, regarding the NHSS or the OPA, No. A-3, please act in accordance with the Public Meeting Notices and provide your comments in writing to the individual municipalities or to the Manitoulin Planning Board Office. Thank you.