A Primer on Wetland Offsetting in Ontario

Introduction

Ontario has lost more than 72 percent of wetlands south of the Canadian Shield, and the losses continue. Furthermore, according to the 2021 Ontario Auditor General’s report on the environment, the Government of Ontario has quietly abandoned the Wetland Conservation Strategy for Ontario 2017–2030. A key threat to Ontario’s remaining wetlands is land conversion for development, with the practice of wetland offsetting emerging as an increasingly popular strategy to compensate for wetland destruction or degradation.

Wetland offsetting is risky business. It is seldom successful in fully compensating for wetland loss. While it may make sense in situations where damage is unavoidable, it should always be considered only as a last resort and approached with extreme caution. Currently, however, local planning authorities are operating in the absence of provincial guidance on offsetting, and in many cases without a clear sense of the risks inherent in the practice.

2. Evaluating Policy

This page introduces a ten-point framework to evaluate the strength of wetland offsetting policies based on recommendations and considerations from a range of experts.

4. Expanding Your Horizons

This page provides resources to delve even deeper into the topic of wetland offsetting.