After reviewing the proposal…

After reviewing the proposal, the following are key recommendations identified by staff from the City of London:

1) That the proposed Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency be fully funded by the Province to prevent additional financial contributions from municipalities, which would otherwise place further strain on the municipal tax base.
2) That the Province explores ways to ensure localized, watershed-aligned expertise is retained in the new model in order to respond to environmental conditions, infrastructure realities, and community needs while maintaining targeted conservation, permitting, and hazard-management services.
3) That clear provincial direction be provided through the Regional Conservation Authority (RCA) model, especially through meaningful updates to certain sections under the Conservation Authorities (CA) Act, which could achieve greater consistency in permitting across Ontario in order to achieve the stated goals in the Proposal.