Ministry of Red Tape Reduction
Norfolk County is asking the Province to help remove barriers slowing critical infrastructure and housing development by streamlining Planning approvals and supporting cross-jurisdictional coordination for water system upgrades.
Update on the urban boundary expansion and inter-urban water supply
Where we're at
Norfolk County is moving forward with urban boundary expansions that will add 1,354 acres of land across Courtland, Delhi, Simcoe, and Waterford. This expansion is intended to support a projected population increase of nearly 30,000 residents by 2051. Based on a 2021 growth study, the County is planning for an additional 294 acres of residential land and 129 acres of employment land to accommodate future housing and job needs.
Looking ahead, the expansion will require strategic investments in infrastructure, including upgrades to the water and wastewater systems. Port Dover, Simcoe, Waterford, Delhi and Port Rowan have independent water supply systems that require significant investments to accommodate the growing population.
The inter-urban water supply program was designed to centralize Norfolk County’s drinking water and interconnect the systems for redundancy and flexibility to support growth.. Norfolk County is asking the Province how to break down this application for this project to be successful. Without financial support from the Province, Council recently directed staff to conduct a high-level review of a Plan B approach. A Plan B approach would require investing in five independent drinking water systems and sourcing additional groundwater wells for the projected growth areas of Delhi, Waterford and Simcoe.
Norfolk asks that the Province:
- Provide guidance on how to structure and advance the inter-urban water supply application to improve chances of success.
- Support in navigating cross-jurisdictional coordination with Haldimand County.
- Consider a “Plan B” approach, including feasibility studies for the Bloomsburg Well.
- Assist in identifying which water treatment plant should be prioritized for upgrades based on growth projections and infrastructure conditions.
- Ensure infrastructure planning aligns with Norfolk’s approved urban expansion and population growth targets.
Delays in the Planning application process
Where we’re at
Norfolk County is experiencing significant delays in the processing of planning applications due to increasing volume, limited staff capacity, and the complexity of regulatory requirements. The current system involves navigating multiple layers of provincial policy, overlapping agency reviews, and evolving legislation, often resulting in confusion, extended timelines, and higher costs for both the municipality and applicants.
For example, even relatively straightforward planning applications can take many months to process due to coordination challenges between conservation authorities, utility companies, provincial ministries, and internal departments. These delays hinder the County’s ability to respond to urgent housing and economic development needs, frustrate investors and local builders, and reduce confidence in the approval process.
Norfolk asks that:
- The Ministry of Red Tape Reduction work with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and other relevant agencies to streamline the planning approvals process for rural and single-tier municipalities. Specifically, we request:
- A cross-ministry review of approval timelines and agency referral processes to identify and eliminate unnecessary duplication and delays.
- Regulatory simplification tools to reduce uncertainty for applicants and staff, such as standardized templates, checklists, and clear guidance.
- Pilot programs for delegated or fast-track approvals in rural municipalities for low-risk or priority applications (e.g., housing, agricultural value-added projects).
- Support digital permitting platforms that improve efficiency and coordination among internal and external review bodies.
Norfolk is ready.
We can grow Ontario, together.
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