Thank-you for providing the…

Thank-you for providing the opportunity to make comment on EBR 013-5018, Modernizing Conservation Authorities.

Upon the release of this proposal my colleagues reached out to our local Conservation Authority ,to understand of any early reaction and potential impacts of this proposal.

It is understand that the province is proposing to introduce amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act, which if passed, would help conservation authorities focus and deliver on the core mandate and to improve governance. While the merit behind this objective is understood, there are also some concerns of what this may mean to municipality levies.

More information is required to understand:
1. What is a core function and what is not a core function?
2. How do "non core" functions get funded?
3. What does entering into agreements for non-mandatory programs look like?
4. What is the definition of capital costs and operating/maintenance costs?

It is understand that following the release of this posting, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry that the Section 39 Operating grant for the local conservation authority would be reduced by $421,385 (48%), from $871,073 to $449,688. It is also understood that this reduction in funding may impact this conservation authority and their partner municipalities’ abilities to deliver an effective program related to the core mandate of conservation authorities.

As a municipality that works very closely with the local conservation authority and considers them as partners with our local environmental stewardship, this submission is offered to underline the importance of the existing programs currently supported by the local conservation authority and the desire to see them continue through continued funding.

Thank-you,