Submission to Environmental…

Submission to Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) re: Policy Proposal number 025-1257 (Proposed boundaries for the regional consolidation of Ontario’s conservation authorities)
From: Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association
ERO SUBMISSION DISCUSSION QUESTION #1: What do you see as key factors to support a successful transition and outcome of regional conservation authority consolidation?
Please ensure that local, rural voices can be heard. The regional scale proposed in the Huron-Superior Regional Conservation Authority is too large.
The shore of Lake Huron with a predominantly agricultural land base, provides a more reasonable scale for the existing agencies to work together.
Along the shores of Lake Huron, there are existing models of governance where local watershed organizations work together. One example is source protection regions. Another example is Healthy Lake Huron. Our farm organization sometimes has funds from Healthy Lake Huron. There is also the Huron County Water Protection Steering Committee and the Huron Clean Water Project.
Trusting relationships are needed to address issues around soil and water conservation. We remember a time when there was more access to local extension staff at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (now Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness). Now it seems it is hard to talk to provincial officials.
It should be up to the local municipalities and organizations on how they would be best governed. Perhaps, lead authorities in an area can ensure coordination.
Summary: Grassroots-level conservation authorities have worked to gain trust along the shore of Lake Huron with rural people.
ERO SUBMISSION DISCUSSION QUESTION #2: What opportunities or benefits may come from a regional conservation authority framework?
Use the regional tier to share specialized expertise. For example, a regional Agronomist that can resolve issues around clean water, productive agriculture and conservation farming practices (e.g., strip till, no till and cover crops).
Summary: Share expertise at a more regional scale.
ERO SUBMISSION DISCUSSION QUESTION #3: Do you have suggestions for how governance could be structured at the regional conservation authority level, including suggestions around board size, make-up and the municipal representative appointment process?
Community-based conservation authorities are directed by boards appointed by local municipalities. This provides checks and balances and local input.
Summary: Governance is important. Municipalities will need to retain the ability to appoint their own representatives, to ensure local buy-in. The path forward is centralized information sharing.
ERO SUBMISSION DISCUSSION QUESTION #4: Do you have suggestions on how to maintain a transparent and consultative budgeting process across member municipalities within a regional conservation authority?
Budget transparency requires municipal control of representation and a proven local financial framework that already support clear communication and accountability.
Land that is in the custodianship of a conservation authority is considered a local asset and we anticipate that these properties will remain locally managed.
A regional model would need funding support from the Province of Ontario.
Summary: the Province of Ontario provides funding to meet their goals of consistency of mapping, permitting and data management.
ERO SUBMISSION DISCUSSION QUESTION #5: How can regional conservation authorities maintain and strengthen relationships with local communities and stakeholders?
Maintain community relationships and decision-making.
While there may be some services that could be delivered at a regional scale, some services could be delivered at a local scale. We would leave these decisions to the conservation authorities that could work together with provincial support to determine programmatic changes. We bring decades of experience in land, soil and water conservation. We would gladly be involved in further discussions about working together better.
Summary: Local trust comes from municipally elected representatives and community-based staff.