Association of Professional Archaeologists

Imminent expansion to MTCS release of PIF information

27 Jun 2018 12:43 PM | Anonymous

Dear APA Member,  

You may recall last year's MTCS initiative to release PIF information to third parties and that we were the only one of three organizations contacted who consulted with our membership.  The same initiative is now apparently going to be broadened to include release of client contact information to third parties.  A copy of yesterday's MTCS letter is included below.  

If you have any concerns please let us know right away*send an email by July 1st to members@apaontario.ca*for a consolidated reply from APA members ~ as for some unexplained reason MTCS decided on a one-week deadline for comments.

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bryant, Kathryn (MTCS) <Kathryn.Bryant@ontario.ca>
Date: 26 June 2018 at 11:24
Subject: upcoming changes to MTCS initiative
To: OAS President, APA President, CAA President


Good morning,

 

I am following up on an email sent in May 2017 by Jim Sherratt, former Manager of the Archaeology Program Unit, to the previous leaders of your organizations about a ministry communication initiative begun last summer to share data submitted to MTCS via the Project Information Forms (PIFs) in PastPortal. This initiative was in response to requests from a number of Indigenous communities, municipalities and others for information about the archaeological assessments being completed within their traditional territory, municipal boundaries or other defined area.

 

Beginning in July of 2017 MTCS began providing information on current archaeological activity through a monthly email distribution list. The list includes information from all new PIFs in Ontario for which numbers have been issued in a given month. It is provided as an Excel spreadsheet and includes name and licence number of the licensee, project title, stage of fieldwork, fieldwork start date, and municipality. The list is shared with all Indigenous communities, municipalities and organizations that request the information.

 

In June 2017 we received positive feedback and comments from the previous leaders of your organizationsI am writing today to seek comment on some upcoming changes to this initiative. Based on feedback we’ve been receiving from licensees and Indigenous communities in response to the monthly updates we will be adding some additional information to the list beginning in July 2018, including proponent name, as well as additional location details where available, such as Lot and Concession, latitude/longitude, UTM coordinates, and municipal/street address. This will enable Indigenous communities and municipalities to better understand the study area for each project and enable them to reach out to the proponent directly if they so desire. This approach addresses scenarios where a licensee may not be able to share their client information and who are encouraged, but not required (under the 2011 Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists) to engage with Indigenous communities prior to Stage 3.

 

We will be announcing these changes to all licensees prior to releasing any additional PIF data. We would appreciate any comments you may have by July 3, 2018.

 

Thanks,

Katie

 

 

Kathryn Bryant

A/ Manager

Archaeology Program Unit | Programs and Services Branch

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

401 Bay Street, Suite 1700

Toronto, Ontario

M7A 0A7

416-314-7132

Kathryn.Bryant@ontario.ca


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