ARTICLE · 19 MARCH 2026

Digging Into Change: Ontario Proposes Updates To Archaeological Assessment Standards

Davies Howe

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Archaeological assessments are a common source of delay and uncertainty in the development approval process. Ontario is now proposing changes that could narrow...

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Davies Howe

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Archaeological assessments are a common source of delay and uncertainty in the development approval process. Ontario is now proposing changes that could narrow the scope of archaeological investigations and allow portions of development sites to proceed sooner.

On March 6, 2026, Ontario's Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism ("MCM") posted a proposal on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO No. 026-0216) seeking public feedback on updates to the 2011 Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists ("Standards and Guidelines") and on proposed criteria for evaluating Licensed Consultant Archaeologists' ("LCAs") compliance records. The proposal remains open for public comment until April 5, 2026.

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