The Council for the Township…

The Council for the Township of Gillies appreciates the opportunity to provide comment on ERO Posting 025-1257 and supports the following:

Moved By: Reeve Wright
Seconded By: Councillor Buitenhuis

WHEREAS the Conservation Authorities Act (1946) enables municipalities to establish local conservation authorities, and when municipalities choose to form such authorities, they assume responsibility for governance and funding through the appointment of a Board of Directors and the provision of an annual levy to cover expenses;

AND WHEREAS the municipalities within Lakehead Region established the Neebing Valley Conservation Authority in 1954 which enlarged to the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) in 1963;

AND WHEREAS local municipalities currently provide approximately 50% of total conservation authority funding, while the Province of Ontario provides approximately 5%;

AND WHEREAS municipalities have governed their respective conservation authorities for decades, tailoring programs and services to local watershed needs, maintaining accountable service standards, and ensuring fair and predictable costs for ratepayers;

AND WHEREAS conservation authorities collectively own and manage thousands of hectares of land, much of which was donated by local residents as a personal legacy for long-term protection, stewardship, and the public good;

AND WHEREAS proposed governance changes risk undermining community trust and donor confidence, as these contributions were made with the expectation of local accountability and decision-making in the care and management of these lands;

AND FURTHER THAT the Council of the Township of Gillies supports efforts to balance expertise, capacity, and program delivery across the province, and requests that the Province work collaboratively with municipalities and local conservation authorities to determine the most effective level of strategic consolidation to achieve both provincial and local objectives;

AND FURTHER THAT the Council of the Township of Gillies is opposed to the proposed “Huron-Superior Regional Conservation Authority” boundary configuration outlined in Environmental Registry Notice 025-1257;

AND FURTHER THAT the Council of the Township of Gillies recommends that the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority form the “Northwestern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority”;

AND FURTHER THAT the Ministry engage directly with affected municipalities of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, before finalizing any consolidation boundaries or legislative amendments;

AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Environmental Registry of Ontario consultations and to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and his Opposition critics; MPP Kevin Holland; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario; Conservation Ontario; all local municipalities; and all conservation authorities in Ontario.