Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

Reporting directly to the Manager of Lands and Non-Renewable Resources Section, to lead / coordinate the development of legislation, regulation, and Orders in Council. To develop policies and procedures in pursuit of Ontario's land management objectives. To provide expert advice and support to staff and government as to the identification and resolution of land management issues. To communicate and promote the objectives, principles and strategies of the land management program (LMP), so that they are understood, accepted and supported by the program practitioners, other governments and government agencies, as well as program stakeholders and clients.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Development of Legislation and Regulation Provides group leadership in the development of legislation (Public Lands Act and Beds of Navigable Waters Act) and regulations related to the LMP by: a) participating in the Provincial Lands Forum which sets agenda for LMP; recommends resources dedicated to projects, tracks project progress, vets policies proposals and recommends their senior executive approval and implementation; b) leading individual teams fulfilling the legislative needs of the LMP, including the identification of underlying issues, development of viable options, and recommendations for specific enactments; c) leading consultation and solicitation of input from stakeholders; d) obtaining required reviews and approvals; liaising with Legal Services/Legislative Council on drafting legislation; liaising with Strategic Policy and Economics Branch/Communications Services Branch on templates, clause by clause review, communications plans, reviewing draft bills, etc.), and e) responding to questions from Minister's Office, Legislation and Regulations Committee, and Cabinet Office. Provides program / Ministry input into the development of legislation and regulation of other sections/Ministries by: a) representing LMP/Ministry on legislative review committees (e.g. Mining Act, O. Reg. 316/03 [under HTA], Payments in Lieu (of taxes), etc.); and b) reviewing policy proposals and products development by other MNR programs or other government agencies as to their implications for the LMP and providing necessary input, recommendations and peer review. Coordinates the development of non-water related land management Orders in Council (OIC) (Sections 2, 39, PLA; Section 49 of the Legislation Act; Section 29.1, Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act) by; a) reviewing OIC proposals at an early stage to provide input and advice, confirming statutory need for OIC and compliance with LMP policy, and to recommend approval in principle; b) reviewing District OIC submissions (requisitions, Briefing Notes, attachments) for completeness and accuracy to meet Branch expectations/standards and consulting with Strategic Policy and Economics Branch and Legal Services Branch as required with respect to nature of submission and timing of request, representing Branch at Legislation and Regulations Committee as required) ; and c) developing precedent draft OICs

Knowledge :

Comprehensive knowledge of existing legislation, corporate and operational policies and procedures, and practices related to the management of provincial Crown lands and real property and the application of those policies and practices. Expert knowledge of legislative and policy development processes. Comprehensive knowledge of case law related to the management and disposition of Crown land, and public and riparian rights in water (e.g. Keewatin Power Company and Hudson's Bay Company v. Town of Kenora, Walker and Attorney-General for Ontario, Gibbs v. Grand Bend (Village), Canoe Ontario v. Julian Reed). Thorough understanding of other resource management programs and issues as they relate to Crown land management. Strong organizational, project management and leadership skills as they relate to the direction of task teams, committees, etc. Excellent research and analytical skills and experience as they relate to problem-solving, option development and decision-making in the policy development process. Practiced public consultation, conflict resolution and negotiation skills. Skills and experience related to training, policy transfer and provision of technical advice. Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including the ability to converse with a wide range of external land management program stakeholders and Ontario Government staff.

Judgement :

Good judgment is required in providing expert analysis and advice to senior management, ministry staff and external stakeholders on the interpretation, review and development of existing and proposed legislation, policies and procedures related to Crown land management and the resolution of related contentious issues. Good judgment is also required in developing operational and technical policy and procedural direction including: identifying the need for direction; developing and analyzing options; understanding and balancing implementation issues; consulting with stakeholders; and recommending operational and technical policy and procedural direction for ministry approval. Sound judgment is also necessary in leading and participating in teams and projects which may involve both internal and external participants (i.e. public, NGO, other government agency), competing interest, funding and onerous deadlines.

Accountability - Programs :

The incumbent is accountable for delivering operational and technical policies, procedures and programs which must be developed, reviewed and implemented according to Ontario government standards, within pre-approved funding and time line limits. The incumbent is also responsible for the quality and timeliness of the advice provided to government through briefing notes and presentations, as well as that expert technical and operational advice provided to ministry staff and external clients.

Accountability – Personnel :

The incumbent is responsible for wise use of financial and human resources that are dedicated to teams and projects under his/her leadership

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

Simultaneous participation in numerous projects makes the incumbent responsible for balancing his/her own time commitments to achieve maximum overall output and efficiency.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Development of unsound land management operational and technical policies, procedures and advice, the implementation of poorly designed programs and/or the offering of unsound technical land management advice can result in: criticism, embarrassment and loss of credibility for the Ontario government; loss of government revenue from Crown land sources; unnecessary abuse of Ontario's natural resources and the environment; unnecessary legal and financial liability for the province; loss of provincial title to land and loss of opportunities to improve the province's social economic or environmental condition.

Contact - Internal :

Frequent contacts on policy matters with staff and management in other MNR programs (e.g. Legal Services Branch, Office of the Surveyor General, Aboriginal Policy Branch, Communications Services Branch, Enforcement Branch, Integration Branch, Strategic Policy and Economics Branch, Natural Heritage, Lands and Protected Spaces Branch, Ontario Parks, Biodiversity Branch & Renewable Energy), including Regional Operations Division staff in regional and district offices.

Contact - External :

Regular contact with staff in other Ontario Government agencies (e.g. Ministries of Northern Development and Mines, Consumer Services, Transportation, Environment, Tourism and Culture, Municipal Affairs and Housing, Aboriginal Affairs). Frequent contact with other levels of government (e.g. federal agencies such as Canada Border Services Agency; Canada Revenue Agency, Parks Canada, National Defence and the Canadian Forces, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada; Ontario municipalities and Assembly of First Nations; land management agencies in other provinces). Contact with industrial / commercial associations (e.g. tourism, utilities, communications) and environmental / recreational NGOs (e.g. cottagers and recreation camp owners, trail users, naturalists). Frequent direct contact with members of the general public and law firms on specific land management issues.