To whom it may concern: Re:…

To whom it may concern:

Re: Resolution 2019-294 – ERO 013-5018 – Clean Water Act

Please be advised that the following resolution was passed at the May 15, 2019 meeting of the Council of the Municipality of Grey Highlands.
2019-294
Cathy Little, Aakash Desai
Whereas the Ontario Government’s Proposal on the Environmental Registry of Ontario 013-5018 on Modernizing the Conservation Authority Act proposes that programs and services related to a conservation authority’s duties and functions and responsibilities as a source protection authority under the Clean Water Act 2006 (CWA), be one of the core mandatory programs; and
Whereas Section 2 of Bill 108, the “More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019”, proposes that a conservation authority is authorized to determine the amounts owed by specified municipalities in connection with the programs and services the authority provides in respect of the CWA; and
Whereas a conservation authority, continues to be authorized to provide other programs and services, and when this necessitates financing by a participating municipality, the authority and the municipality must enter into an agreement in order for the authority to provide the program or service; and
Whereas the Drinking Water Source Protection (DWSP) program has been funded 100% through provincial transfer payments, and is viewed as critical to support the ongoing maintenance of the local source protection committee, source protection plan amendments, municipal implementation and annual reporting requirements; and
Whereas shifting source protection program costs to municipal budgets could result in significant tax increases for residents, or possibly cuts to key programs that support the delivery of the source protection programs, including water quality monitoring, stewardship and education and outreach; and
Whereas municipalities are already responsible for the delivery of Part IV powers under the CWA to implement risk management requirements in designated source protection areas, whereby the Municipality of Grey Highlands has delegated these powers to Grey Sauble Conservation; and
Whereas it needs to be considered that there may be additional costs to municipalities since provincial funding for the risk management program ended in December 2018; and
Whereas the current provincial program oversight and funding model ensures consistent delivery of source protection program requirements and protection of municipal drinking water sources; and
Whereas Source Protection Areas were originally created under the CWA to ensure an efficient and effective way to deliver SP programs that cross municipal boundaries, as recommended by Justice Dennis R. O’Connor following the Walkerton Inquiry;
Now therefore be it resolved that the Municipality of Grey Highlands feels strongly that the ultimate accountability should rest with the province and that the source protection authority should not take on additional liability or accountability in its administration of the program; and
That the Municipality of Grey Highlands feels strongly that municipalities should not have to incur additional costs in the delivery of this program within limited municipal budgets; and
That the Municipality of Grey Highlands recommends that the existing administrative and funding model implementing CWA requirements be maintained and sustained; and
That Municipal staff be directed to provide a copy of this resolution to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO #013-5018) prior to the May 21st deadline; and also provide a copy to the Premier, Ministers Walker, Phillips, and Yakabuski; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), the Ontario Small and Urban Municipalities Association (OSUM); and to Conservation Ontario.
CARRIED.

If you require anything further, please contact this office.

Sincerely,

Raylene Martell
Director of Legislative Services/Municipal Clerk
Municipality of Grey Highlands