Members of Huron County Council shared their thoughts on the provincial government's proposed consolidation of Conservation Authorities this week, with several members opposing the amendments to the act.
The Ford government introduced Bill 68, Plan to Protect Ontario Act which proposes to amend the Conservation Authorities Act, creating a centralized oversight agency. Changes would also include consolidating the 36 existing local Conservation Authorities into seven regional Conservation Authorities.
Sandra Weber, Director of Planning and Development, provided a report to council on the potential impact of the proposed changes, noting that being included in a larger authority could impact their ability to deliver certain programs and services.
She pointed to the Huron Clean Water Project and the Huronview Demonstration Farm as examples of programs that could suffer under a larger umbrella.
"Our local conservation authority staff are the boots on the ground, meeting with property owners and helping to implement these successful projects, so there's a concern that the local knowledge and relationships that have been built could be lost in a larger, regional consolidation," Weber told council.
She also noted there was a lack of information from the province regarding some key areas of the proposed plan, notably if there would be any local municipal representation on the new Regional Conservation Authority Board and what the cost of implementing this new agency.
"It feels a bit like the province is asking local municipalities to continue to fund the Conservation Authorities, but some of the decision-making authority would be moved to a higher level," said Weber.
When opened for discussion, several members of County council voiced concerns with the amalgamation plan.
Goderich Deputy Mayor Leah Noel said the consolidation was another way the province was losing rural input.
"The provincial government says they're basing it on watersheds, but they've put Thunder Bay in our region, so I don't know what to say except, baloney," she said. "Thunder Bay has no relationship to the watershed here... It's another example of how we're losing local input. It's adding bureaucracy, you're going to run into the same problem you run into anytime you call come big conglomerate, you're not going to talk to a real person."
Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan noted this provincial government has already been trying to consolidate health units and school boards, so pointing out the inefficiency won't do any good. He suggested focusing on the local relationships that help make the projects successful and a positive use for taxpayer dollars in their feedback.
County council approved a motion for staff to prepare comments on the Bill based on the discussions.
One of the local conservation authorities has also chimed in on the matter.
On November 20, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Board of Directors approved its letter responding to Bill 68, saying in no uncertain terms that it is against the creation of the not support the regional Huron-Superior Regional Conservation Authority.
The letter stated that the move from local CAs is "contrary to the basic principle that decisions are best made closest to the communities they affect." It asks the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to engage directly with affected municipalities and conservation authorities in a working group before finalizing any proposed consolidation of boundaries.
Comments can be provided on the proposed changes at the Environmental Registry of Ontario until December 22.
