Archaeology Management Plan

The County of Brant is preparing its first Archaeological Management Plan (AMP) to help identify, protect, and preserve important archaeological sites and cultural heritage resources, including places that reflect Indigenous history and culture. Developing this plan supports provincial requirements to consider and protect archaeological resources as part of land use planning and development.

The plan will help guide future growth and development by identifying areas where archaeological resources may be located. This information will help ensure these important pieces of our shared history are considered and protected while supporting a more efficient planning process.

What the plan will include
As part of this work, the AMP will:

  • Update mapping containing archaeological sites and areas of interest to better guide land-use planning and development decisions.
  • Include meaningful consultation and engagement with Indigenous communities. Creating stronger relationships and allowing us to better understand, identify, and protect sites that may hold cultural, historical, or spiritual significance.
  • Establish clear procedures for protecting and avoiding archaeological resources when development is proposed, including protocols for managing burial sites.
  • Ensure the County's approach aligns with provincial and federal legislation, policiesy, and requirements.
  • Provide clearer policies, guidelines, and frameworks to strengthen the County’s archaeological inventory and understanding of when assessments are needed.
  • Support public education and awareness by creating opportunities for community members to learn about the County's archaeological heritage and the importance of protecting it.
What to expect and when

Engagement for this project will take place in phases.

Learn more

Learn more about archaeology, archaeological assessments in Ontario, Archaeological Management Plans, understand why the County is undertaking this project, and find answers to common questions and concerns.

Explore the “Did You Know?” section to learn something new, discover how archaeology helps us understand the past, and find out how this work will help guide future decisions.

Stay informed

Subscribe for updates and be the first to receive the most current information about this project. Simply add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe’.

The County of Brant is preparing its first Archaeological Management Plan (AMP) to help identify, protect, and preserve important archaeological sites and cultural heritage resources, including places that reflect Indigenous history and culture. Developing this plan supports provincial requirements to consider and protect archaeological resources as part of land use planning and development.

The plan will help guide future growth and development by identifying areas where archaeological resources may be located. This information will help ensure these important pieces of our shared history are considered and protected while supporting a more efficient planning process.

What the plan will include
As part of this work, the AMP will:

  • Update mapping containing archaeological sites and areas of interest to better guide land-use planning and development decisions.
  • Include meaningful consultation and engagement with Indigenous communities. Creating stronger relationships and allowing us to better understand, identify, and protect sites that may hold cultural, historical, or spiritual significance.
  • Establish clear procedures for protecting and avoiding archaeological resources when development is proposed, including protocols for managing burial sites.
  • Ensure the County's approach aligns with provincial and federal legislation, policiesy, and requirements.
  • Provide clearer policies, guidelines, and frameworks to strengthen the County’s archaeological inventory and understanding of when assessments are needed.
  • Support public education and awareness by creating opportunities for community members to learn about the County's archaeological heritage and the importance of protecting it.
What to expect and when

Engagement for this project will take place in phases.

Learn more

Learn more about archaeology, archaeological assessments in Ontario, Archaeological Management Plans, understand why the County is undertaking this project, and find answers to common questions and concerns.

Explore the “Did You Know?” section to learn something new, discover how archaeology helps us understand the past, and find out how this work will help guide future decisions.

Stay informed

Subscribe for updates and be the first to receive the most current information about this project. Simply add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe’.

Questions and comments

County of Brant Staff aim to maintain a respectful and constructive dialogue through all forms of communication. We understand and appreciate that people have differing opinions and concerns, and welcome all feedback in a respectful and constructive manner.

Please ask your question or leave your comment below. We will do our best to respond within 3 business days. 

You may also find answers to your questions by visiting our list of FAQs.

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  • 1A) Does the Ontario Heritage Act Require a "Archaeological Management Plan (AMP) 1B) Could you be more clear on what "provincial requirements" you are referring to that are then needed to be applied. 1C) When did we decide we needed this study and who initiated it? Thank you

    MJR asked about 1 month ago

    Thanks for your follow-up questions. Some responses below:

    1A) No, The Ontario Heritage Act does not require an AMP. 

    1B) The provincial requirements are those found in Ontario's land use planning framework. Specifically, policy 4.6.2 of the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement, which requires a municipality to "not permit development" unless "archaeological resources have been conserved". To achieve this, Policy 4.6.4(a) encourages municipalities to develop and implement Archaeological Management Plans as a tool for conserving archaeological resources and supporting planning decisions.

    1C) As part of the Official Plan review completed between 2019 and 2023, the County adopted a policy commitment (Part 2, Section 2.16.4) to prepare an Archaeological Management Plan - this is when we decided we needed the study. It was initiated as a recommendation by Planning staff through the Official Plan process and subsequently approved by Council through the adoption of the Official Plan and funded through the County's capital budget process.

  • Could you please clarify: 1) What provincial requirements is this work being done to satisfy? When was this requirement made? Which government leader did we elect that has made this a requirement? 2) What are the expected costs going to be for County Residents on an annual basis and will this be an on going forever cost or will there be an end for these requirements? 3) Would it be better for Residents if we hire a qualified person or train a qualified local person to complete this work County wide instead of adding it to the cost of every building permit application? Thanks

    MJR asked about 2 months ago

    Thanks for your interest in this project. Here are the responses to your questions:

    1) What provincial requirements is this work being done to satisfy? When was this requirement made? Which government leader did we elect that has made this a requirement?

    Protecting archaeological resources has been part of Ontario law since the 1970s through the Ontario Heritage Act and the Planning Act. Municipalities have been required to consider archaeological resources when reviewing development applications (like subdivisions, zoning, site plans, and severances) for many years. 

    The Archaeological Management Plan (AMP) is not a requirement created by a specific Premier or government. It is a tool used by municipalities to identify areas where archaeological resources may be present and to apply provincial requirements more consistently and efficiently. The Province provides guidelines on how to identify these areas, and it's our responsibility to implement them - which is what the AMP will help us do. 

    2) What are the expected costs going to be for County Residents on an annual basis and will this be an ongoing forever cost or will there be an end for these requirements?

    The County has budgeted $400,000 for this project over a period of 2 years. This includes the consulting contract, participation by Indigenous communities, and public education and engagement. It is included in the Capital Budget, and because it is related to development, some of the costs are recoverable from Development Charges.

    This is mainly a one-time project. The plan itself may need occasional updates in the future if the Province updates its guidelines, or as more archeological data is gathered, but it is not expected to be a recurring annual study of the same size or cost.

    Archaeological assessments for development projects are separate from the AMP. The AMP helps identify where a more detailed archeological assessment may or may not be needed, providing clarity for property owners. For context, a preliminary archaeological assessment for a single property can typically cost between $1,500 and $5,000. Completing a County-wide study helps create a shared resource that can be used across the municipality rather than repeating similar work on individual properties.

    3) Would it be better for Residents if we hire a qualified person or train a qualified local person to complete this work County wide instead of adding it to the cost of every building permit application? 

    Thank you for this suggestion. The AMP will help identify where archaeological review is needed and provide Council with information to assess whether additional in-house archaeological expertise would be beneficial, or whether the current case-by-case approach remains appropriate.

    Archaeological assessments are generally not required for building permits and are most commonly associated with planning applications such as subdivisions, rezonings, site plans, and severances. If archaeological resources are discovered during construction, work must stop in the affected area until the find is assessed by a licensed archaeologist. More information is available at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/archaeology. 

Page last updated: 29 Oct 2026, 03:16 PM