I am a Drainage…

I am a Drainage Superintendent in Ontario responsible for managing municipal drains under the Drainage Act.

We currently work with the Conservation Authorities and Department of Fisheries and Oceans for drainage work completed on municipal drains across the Province of Ontario. Working with the MNRF has not been the same when the movement went from an Exemption Agreement to Registry system. As Drainage Superintendents we registered but all the responsibility was shifted to us as the Business Accountable person when it came to the species the Act was trying to protect with regards to mitigation plans. When it was the Exemption Agreements, the mitigation plans were written by MNR staff and it worked well. When the registry came into affect Head office with the MNRF said we just had to register and use the mitigation plans from the old agreements but the District Office at times felt differently about this. There seemed to be a disconnect within MNRF.

With the DFO and CAs, with the help of OMAFRA we have been able to create committee's which allow us as Drainage Supers to work together with them to streamline a process and approvals for works under the Drainage Act. These two committees are(1) DAWG - Drainage Action Working Group committee (Lead by DFO) and (2) DART - Drainage Act and Conservation Authorities Act Protocol committee (Lead by CA).

Within these committees we meet regularly to discuss drainage works. We have created a process of a Drainage Notification Form that is submitted to these Agencies for Class Authorization (DFO Approval) and SCRs - Standard Compliance Requirements (CA Approval). We have been able to develop a "Do not send list" with DFO as long as certain requirements are met. On the DAWG committee we have developed a Guidance Document for maintenance and repair of drains in Ontario.

As a Drainage Superintendent I would love for a new Committee to be created to work with you related to works completed under the Drainage Act and so that all works comply with the ESA.