The Conservation Authorities…

The Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario was previously updated through a three year multi stakeholder review process. Considerable time, effort and public funds were invested to create the Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017. These postings are untimely due to recent natural occurrences and disasters and may not be an appropriate use of public funds.

Conservation Authorities are particularly practiced at using public funds wisely and expertly for communities and the environment. Most Authorities receive self-generated of nearly 50% of their operating costs. Considering the low amount of revenue received from the Province, it's incredibly disturbing that that the Province is making an effort to increase administrative and reporting burdens on local agencies that serve their member municipalities directly.

Conservation Authorities are the only agencies that are locally accessible. People, communities and municipalities have direct access to their expertise, resources and commitment.

The Province has not funded or largely supported Conservation Authorities since the 1990's.

It's concerning that financial cuts to core programs will ultimately result in additional layers of bureaucracy and administrative burden to organizations with boots on the ground.

With limited staff and funding, these agencies continue to go the distance for their partners and the environment in ways other levels of government have not.

Local, watershed-based organizations have international recognition for their approach to protect communities and improve natural resources.

I would encourage the Province to find value in existing approaches and programs that work directly for local governments and communities. Cuts to these areas are untimely when forest cover is on a steady decline in Southern and Eastern Ontario and historic floods are becoming commonplace.

All of the work, programs and services offered and administered by Conservation Authorities are approved by Boards appointed by local municipalities. These agencies have developed their work around their environmental mandates with their partner municipalities for over 70 years.

Increasing financial burden and risk and increasing bureaucratic administration does not help advance and protect communities and the environment.

Local ministry district offices and municipalities are not capable of taking on additional environmental responsibilities. There are few environmental services and protection of people and property in areas of the province without the support of watershed organizations; which speaks to a long-standing practice and relationships that helps build resilient communities.

Existing approaches by Conservation Authorities are approved and endorsed by municipalities; these are appropriate avenues for oversight.

If the Province is undergoing a review of legislated provincial environmental services, I would suggest to:
- Donate public owned land and forests in CA jurisdictions to interested CAs (the Province is not managing land and forests in Eastern Ontario)
- Leave appropriate CA funding mechanisms in place with municipalities
- Scrap the "Made in Ontario Environment Plan", tackling pollution as a provincial priority falls short on community expectation
- Renew provincial funding mechanisms to provincially legislated programs
- Support the creation of Conservation Authorities in areas of the province not covered by a CA jurisdiction to help encourage the protection of people and property from natural hazards
- Support the Government of Canada and the Province of Quebec in establishing a joint agency or secretariat for the Ottawa River Watershed
- Encourage the amalgamation of smaller Conservation Authority jurisdiction to support improved administration and program delivery