1) What do you see as key…

1) What do you see as key factors to support a successful transition and outcome of regional conservation authority consolidation?

Reduce the proposed size of the Region for Eastern Ontario. Create two Regions along watershed boundaries that respect the main river the tributaries flow to. In Eastern Ontario that would mean that the RVCA, MVCA, and the parts of the Raisin and South Nation that flow to the Ottawa River should be one Conservation Authority. The Cataraqui CA and the municipalities with streams that flow into the St. Lawrence would be a second Region.

Do not reduce the levels of protection. Levels of environmental protection should be uniformly raised to the highest level in the same Region. No reduction in service levels to municipalities e.g., report cards on state of watersheds, catchments, etc., provision of permits to the public, etc.

Since Ontario municipalities are the primary funders of conservation authorities, they should decide the structure of these organizations moving forward. Local municipalities currently provide between 25 per cent and 50 per cent of total conservation authority funding, while the province of Ontario provides approximately three (3) per cent.

Ensure that regional authorities can adapt provincial standards to local hydrological and ecological conditions. Ensure that staff with local knowledge will be retained. The differences in water management requirements between the municipalities from Deseronto to the Quebec border and Ottawa to close to the Bancroft area vary widely from clay plains to granite bedrock.

2) What opportunities or benefits may come from a regional conservation authority framework?

Providing smaller conservation authorities with better modelling capacity for climate change impacts.

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?

For each municipality to have representation in Eastern Ontario as proposed, a 46 member board would be needed which seems unwieldy.

Grouping the Eastern Region Conservation Authorities into two Regions one whose watersheds drain to the Ottawa River and one whose watersheds flow to the St. Lawrence would reduce the size of the boards for each Region. This structure would also simplify their management as the Cataraqui Conservation Authority and the municipalities whose streams drain to the St. Lawrence are under a different jurisdictional regime (joint with the USA) than the RVCA, MVCA and the parts of the Raisin and South Nation conservation authorities whose streams flow to the Ottawa River.

4) Do you have suggestions on how to maintain a transparent and consultative budgeting process across member municipalities within a regional conservation authority?

Clarify how the proposed Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency will interact with the new Regional Conservation Authority Boards. It seems like an unnecessary additional layer of bureaucracy that municipalities will have to pay for. Tay Valley Township has experience with the amalgamation of Police Services Boards into one Lanark County Board and the extra costs that brought are not welcome.

Turnaround time on permitting through local conservation authorities in Eastern Ontario is currently fast, and permitting costs are between 33 and 50 per cent of the costs seen in other conservation authorities across the province. Tay Valley Township does not want to see uniform pricing across the province as that would be unfair.

Provide the proposed budget to the municipal Treasurer by August since most municipalities start work on their budgets in September.

5) How can regional conservation authorities maintain and strengthen relationships with local communities and stakeholders?

Retain regional offices. Increase communication staff so that messages can be delivered in a timely manner. We really appreciate the local connection we have with our conservation authorities and are concerned about what affect the change will have on the local presence of conservation authority staff. Amalgamation of Health Units in our area has seen the closure of 4 local offices. We would not want to see a similar reduction in service from Conservation Authorities.

Thousands of acres of land have been donated as personal legacies for long-term protection and stewardship, entrusted specifically to local conservation authorities, and Bill 68 could negate that giving in the future because of the loss of local connection. The proposed St Lawrence Region is too large given the geography and biotic and abiotic characteristics of the proposed Region.