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Ontario's Environmental Leaders

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ontario’s Environmental Leaders Program

General

Incentives

Entry Requirements

General

What is the Ontario’s Environmental Leaders program?
The Leaders program is a voluntary environmental leadership initiative that offers incentives to leading companies that make future commitments to going beyond compliance with their environmental improvements.

What are the benefits of the Leaders program?
Members will enjoy significant benefits including front of the line approvals, a guaranteed 45-day turn around on approval amendments, expedited approvals for new technologies, public recognition, visible branding as an environmental leader through the use of the Leaders logo, meetings with senior ministry officials, technical assistance, single-window access to the ministry, greater regulatory certainty, Enhanced Comprehensive Certificates of Approval, and reduced environmental penalties.

What is the duration of membership in the Leaders program?
The Leaders program has a five year term in which members complete their environmental commitments.

How do renewals work after the five year term?  
After completing a five year term in the program, members can renew their membership for another five years by making new commitments.

Who can apply?
The Leaders program is open to leading facilities, companies, and organizations that meet the program requirements including making future commitments to going beyond compliance with their environmental improvements.

Is there a cost?
There is no cost to apply for the Leaders program.

Incentives

What is Front-of-the-Line Approvals?
If you become a member, you will enjoy the privilege of having your new Certificate of Approval applications moved to the front of the line for priority processing.

What is the guaranteed 45-day turn around on approval amendments? 
If you become a member, you will be provided with superior service, and a ministry commitment to providing decisions on proposed Certificate of Approval amendments in 45 days or less.

How does the public recognition incentive work?
As a member, you will be publicly recognized by the ministry as a Leader, and you will be promoted on the ministry’s public website, as well as in speeches, news releases, public events, etc.

How can I use the Leaders logo?
The Leaders logo is provided for members of the program to use and display. Please refer to the Program Guide for guidance on using the Leaders logo. Possible uses for the Leaders logo include:

  • Print advertisements, flyers and coupons
  • Sign, flag, or banner
  • Website
  • Pamphlets and brochures
  • Visual displays
  • Letterhead or business cards of employees

What are meetings with senior ministry officials?
As a member, you will be invited to attend special meetings with senior ministry officials to discuss issues and policies of interest.

What is an Enhanced Comprehensive Certificate of Approval (CofA)?
An Enhanced Comprehensive CofA provides increased operational flexibility and combines some or all of your existing CofA requirements into one approval. It offers all the elements of a Basic Comprehensive CofA, with five features added:

  • Additional operational flexibility to make process changes without the need to obtain an amendment, on a case-by-case basis
  • Addresses air, water and waste
  • Tailored administrative provisions on a case-by-case basis
  • Written summary report to Ministry of the Environment every other year, instead of every year
  • No expiry date on conditions providing operational flexibility as long as the facility remains in the program

Enhanced Comprehensive CofAs are exclusively available to members of the Environmental Leaders program.

How does single window access work?
To enhance customer service, a ministry Client Service Representative (CSR) is assigned to each member. The CSR will be familiar with the specifics of the Leaders program and will act as a single window contact for members. The CSR will be responsible for ensuring good customer service including tracking applications and approvals and acting as a liaison between your organization and technical and policy contacts within the ministry.

How does the expedited approvals work for the new technology incentive?
As a member, you can submit proof of a new technology’s success used in another jurisdiction as part of your Certificate of Approval application. Pending review of the information, full bench scale and pilot scale testing may not be necessary to introduce the technology in Ontario.

What does the technical assistance incentive provide?
Ministry staff will provide technical assistance to support members in meeting their targets, and will provide guidance on the process of becoming a member in the Leaders program.

What does the greater regulatory certainty incentive provide?
In the event that new regulations are being considered that might impact members, the ministry will consult members on the development of the regulations, and provide advance notice of changes.

What are reduced environmental penalties?
As a member, you may be considered for penalty reductions under the environmental penalty regulations (O. Reg. 222/07 under the Environmental Protection Act and O.Reg. 223/07 under the Ontario Water Resources Act).

Entry Requirements

I’m interested in the Leaders program. What is the process?
We recommend contacting the ministry to discuss your interest in the Leaders program before submitting an application. Staff are available to assist in developing your application including meeting to discuss the specifics of your organization, potential targets, etc.

You can find the Leaders program application form and guide. Ministry staff are available to assist you at 416-327-8073 or leadership.moe@ontario.ca

Once the application has been completed, it’s submitted to the ministry for review. This review includes consultation with the Leaders program Management Committee which has representatives from industry, environmental non-government organizations and academia. Once your application is approved, you will receive an acceptance letter welcoming your organization to the Leaders program and making you immediately eligible for all the program incentives.

What are the entry requirements?
Leaders must have an environmental management system, a good environmental compliance record and commit to going beyond compliance with pollution reduction targets.

What are Pollution Reduction Targets?
As part of the program, your organization must commit to approximately three pollution reduction targets that are achieved over the next five year period. The choice of targets should reflect environmental priorities and are typically developed in consultation with the ministry. Current members in the program have committed to a broad range of targets addressing energy conservation, green energy, air emissions, water consumption, waste water discharges, hazardous and non-hazardous waste, habitat restoration and procurement

Can targets relate to air, water, or waste?
Yes, targets may relate to any media. The ministry will work with applicants to assist them in developing targets. Targets vary according to the type of operation/organization.

Tell me about the Emission Summary and Dispersion Modeling (ESDM) report requirements.
A facility with significant air emissions must provide a current Emission Summary and Dispersion Modeling Report (ESDM).  The ESDM assists in assessing compliance and possible targets.  If an ESDM is already on file with the ministry, please let us know.

What is an Environmental Management System (EMS)?
An EMS is an organizational-management framework that addresses the immediate and long-term environmental impacts of an organization’s products, services, and processes. Some environmental management systems conform to international standards that may be registered with an independent standards organization such as ISO 14001.

Do I need to have an ISO registered EMS to qualify for the Leaders program?
No, the ministry recognizes that an EMS may take various forms, as appropriate to the organization. The Program Guide outlines the elements of an EMS that satisfy the Leaders program.

How does the ministry define a “good record of environmental compliance”?
The ministry considers the facility’s compliance record over the past five years as part of the application process. No single instance of non-compliance will exclude a facility from the program. A facility’s compliance history is considered as a package and each applicant is considered on a case-by-case basis.

What if I need to change my baselines or targets?
It’s important to ensure, from the outset, that baselines and targets are accurate.  Once in the program, your baselines and targets are posted to the Leaders website.  In addition, this information is third party verified in years two and five of your membership in the program.  Making mid-stream changes to baselines and targets can be time consuming.  Changes are also posted to the website for transparency purposes.

However, it is recognized that changes to baselines and targets may be necessary from time to time so the Leaders program has provisions for this.  Please notify the ministry of any changes, as soon as possible, so that we can work together to make the changes.

What is the Management Committee for the Leaders program?
The Management Committee provides recommendations to the ministry regarding applications. The Management Committee is comprised of representatives from industry, environmental non-government organizations and academia. 

What is third party verification?
Under the program, members must have their second and fifth (final) annual reports verified by an independent third party.  Please refer to the Program Guide for more information.