Since a central component of documenting and preserving Ontario's archaeological heritage is to ensure significant archaeological resources are not lost or destroyed by major land disturbances (land use development), archaeological conservation requirements have been built into a host of provincial land use development processes in Ontario. They include, among others:

• environmental assessment work carried out under both the Federal and Provincial E.A. process;
• private sector developments carried out under the Planning Act; and
• natural resource development activities, such as timber management and aggregate extraction carried out under the auspices of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

All archaeological fieldwork undertaken to satisfy the conservation requirements tied to these activities must be conducted by a Consultant Archaeologist holding a valid archaeological license issued under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The Archaeology and Heritage Planning Unit plays a key and on-going role in development planning processes by assisting and guiding municipalities, approval authorities and public and private sector development proponents in meeting the relevant Ontario Heritage Act requirements. The Archaeology and Heritage Planning Unit also acts as reviewer of the investigations conducted by licensed archaeologists, and manages the resources documented by those investigations. The unit also develops operational policies, Technical Standards, Guidelines and informational material regarding the practice of archaeological conservation in Ontario. For information on heritage in planning, please contact the appropriate Heritage Planner.