Advocacy in Action
ONEIA’s advocacy is designed to be both strategic and responsive
Through a combination of standing advocacy committees and issue-specific committees and working groups, ONEIA brings members together to address the policy, regulatory, market, and sector issues that matter most to Ontario’s environmental business community.
Standing committees provide continuity on core priorities, while additional committees or working groups may be established as needed to respond to emerging issues, government consultations, or new opportunities. This flexible model ensures ONEIA’s advocacy remains focused, practical, and member-driven.
How Our Advocacy Works
ONEIA’s advocacy is both strategic and responsive. Through standing committees and issue-specific working groups, we bring members together to address the policy, regulatory, market, and sector issues that matter most to Ontario’s environmental business community. This flexible model ensures our work remains focused, practical, and member-driven.
Working Groups
Focused response to emerging issues, government requests for feedback, and strategic opportunities
Member-Driven Input
Expertise that shapes outcomes, members decide the issues we move forward
Standing Committees
Ongoing leadership on core priorities
Leading Change
Policy
Influence
- Government submissions
- Meetings with elected officials and public servants
- Regulatory feedback
- Position statements
Informing Minds
Thought Leadership
- Proactive white papers
- Issue briefs and strategic recommendations
- Sector analysis and forward-looking insights
Connecting People
Stakeholder Engagement
- Workshops
- Webinars
- Roundtables
- Half-day forums and conferences
- Stakeholder convenings with government and sector partners
What our Advocacy Produces
Featured Advocacy
Current Advocacy Priorities
PFAS
PFAS Committee Objectives/Focus:
How should PFAS be handled and managed in Ontario under evolving regulations or in the absence of them?
The committee is considering, but not limited to, waste management, due diligence activities, manufacturing, wastewater, insurance, and legal implications.
Co-chairs:
Krista Barfoot, SLR Consulting
Stefano Marconetto, WSP
Water / Infrastructure
The Water/Infrastructure Committee is currently focusing on:
- Building Resilience in Ontario’s Water Infrastructure
- Deploying proven innovation in existing and new facilities
- Expanding collaborative project delivery and financing models
- Aligning and streamlining regulatory frameworks
- Modernizing water utility business models
Co-chairs:
Wes Muir, Veolia
Hisham Younis, Bird Construction
Resource Recovery
Resource Recovery Committee Priorties:
- Circular Supply Chains – Delivering Environmental and Fiscal Value through Procurement and Policy
- How Regulation, procurement policies, infrastructure investments, and standards can transform linear waste streams into resilient circular supply chains
- Organics and ICI Waste Diversion
Chair:
Sahra Shojaei, Generate Upcycle
Labour
Labour Working Group Priorities:
- Closing the Labour Gap: Building, Attracting, and Keeping Ontario’s Environmental Workforce Core
- Starting Earlier — Reaching Students Before They Choose Something Else
- Retention of Young Professionals Are Leaving (early-career professionals burn out or exit)
- Unlocking Internationally Educated Talent
Chair:
Kim Risi, Bureau Veritas
Climate Change
Climate Change Committee Priorities:
- Protecting Business Against the Impacts of Climate Change
- What businesses need to know about climate change, the process for analysis, what it looks like, who it should involve, and how adaptation impacts their business continuity.
- Mitigation vs adaptation
Co-chairs:
Janet Bobcechko, WeirFoulds LLP
Janya Kelly, WSP
Energy
Energy Committee Priorities:
- Ontario’s Energy Future in the current Canadian and International Context
- Practical Integration of Diverse Energy Sources
- Policy, Permitting, and Regulatory Challenges
- Supply Chains and Preparedness
Chair:
Jim Whitestone, Woodridge Solutions
Brownfields + Excess Soil
The Brownfields and Excess Soils committees are focused on responding to regulatory updates and requests for response from the Ministry of the Envirnoment and collaborating with other industry stakeholders.
Excess Soil Co-chairs:
Bahman Bani, Jacobs
Laurel Hoffarth, Waste Connections
Brownfields Co-chairs:
Reese McMillan, DS Consultants
Tom Li, Parsons
City of Toronto Policy Response on Contaminated Lands
Red Tape Reduction – Permit Review
Submissions, White Papers & Advocacy Resources
Get Involved
Join a Committee or Working Group
Raise an Advocacy Issue
Contribute to a Submission
View Upcoming Advocacy Events
Email info@oneia.ca to get added to a committee, raise an issue or contribute to a submission and see our events below.