I recommend that Schedule 2…

I recommend that Schedule 2 Conservation Authorities Act (CAA) of Bill 108 be deferred
from enactment to provide Conservation Authorities with more time to consult with their member
municipalities. Also, the mandatory programs and services [proposed Section 21.1 (1)], should be
prescribed in regulation, be supported, and include the addition of "Conserving natural resources ". All of our natural resources, biotic and abiotic deserve protection.

The scope of standards and requirements should be prescribed in regulations to capture all key elements of the mandatory program and service area. Foundational watershed management and climate change adaptation activities should be required to support a CA’s ability to deliver on the mandatory program and service while respecting the fact that all eligible activities may
not be relevant for every watershed AND these activities should be developed in consultation with conservation authorities, municipalities, and other stakeholders.

The government needs to remove the requirements for individual Municipal Council budget agreement for watershed-based programs called “other programs and services”/ nonmandatory. Updates to the municipal levy regulation and training should be developed in collaboration with
conservation authorities and municipalities.

The Province MUST continue to invest in the core mandatory programs and services to be delivered by conservation authorities and support CA eligibility for other provincial funding programs. I also believe that core mandatory programs may be applied to municipal levy or could utilize other sources of revenue.