The government’s goal of…

The government’s goal of standardizing and expediting permit approvals to support development can be achieved within the CURRENT Conservation Authority framework with consistent and sufficient provincial funding.

For the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA), Bill 68 means a proposed merger into a massive Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority spanning over 23,000 km² and 81 municipalities. These changes will significantly impact how local programs, services, and permitting are delivered, including:
*Reduced local representation and decision-making
*Loss of local expertise, knowledge, and responsiveness
*Increased uncertainty and delays for builders, developers, and farmers seeking permits

The proposed single board representing 81 municipalities in the St. Clair Region will dilute local representation and local decision-making.

SCRCA staff posses critical knowledge of the unique hazards hydrology and ecosystems found in the St. Clair Region allowing staff to effectively deliver services meeting the needs of the rural and urban communities. A regional model risks detaching local expertise from the community, delaying emergency response, weakening knowledge-based project management, and reducing public access to Conservation Authority Staff and information.

The SCRCA regulates development to reduce the risk to life and property from flooding and erosion. They already comply with the regulatory framework and service delivery standards set out by the Government of Ontario. A regional model risks creating increased uncertainty and delays for builders, developers, and farmers seeking permits.