Ontario: professional engineering a “prescribed profession”
A Dentons legal update explains that recent amendments to Ontario’s Planning Act—introduced through Bill 17 and accompanying regulations—establish new requirements for what constitutes a “complete application” in the land-use planning process, including the formal recognition of professional engineers as a “prescribed profession.” The changes clarify which qualified professionals can provide the technical studies and reports needed to support planning applications, with the goal of improving consistency, accountability and efficiency in municipal review processes. The update notes that these reforms are intended to streamline approvals while ensuring that submissions are prepared and certified by appropriately regulated experts, potentially affecting how developers, municipalities and professionals coordinate on planning applications.