MOVING FORWARD 

 

PROVINCIAL CHANGES TO CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES ACT WILL HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

 

The Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority's (SSMRCA) role in protecting and managing the local environment is being threatened by proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and Planning Act. Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities are important agencies that help protect Ontario’s environment. Our science-based watershed information helps steer development to appropriate places where it will not harm the environment or create risks to people and property.

 

WHAT'S CHANGED?

Within the Province’s latest budget bill (bill 229), issued November 5, were a number of changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and the Planning Act that will limit conservation authorities’ role in protecting Ontario’s environment and ensuring people and property are safe from natural hazards. Public consultation is not required on these proposals as it has been incorporated as part of the budget.

 

• Changes would authorize the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to take over and decide a development permit application in place of a conservation authority. Conservation authorities are science-based, non-partisan agencies. Granting permitting authority to the Minister would take science out of the equation, effectively politicizing the permitting process and allowing for development that may be considered unsafe or damaging to the natural environment.

• One of the reasons the province decided to amend the Conservation Authorities Act is to streamline the planning and permitting process. But the proposed changes will actually create more costs, delays and red tape as multiple avenues of appeal are made available, which will short-circuit the development review process. 

• Proposed changes would prohibit conservation authorities from independently appealing decisions made around permits and municipal planning applications. This can put more people and infrastructure at risk and add additional stressors to our local environment.

• The SSMRCA Board acts on behalf of the watershed and its residents. Proposed changes would direct board members to act only on behalf of the municipality they represent, contradicting recent recommendations by Ontario’s Auditor General. Moreover, for members to act only on behalf of their municipality is counter to the intent of the Conservation Authorities Act, which was to transcend political boundaries for municipalities sharing a watershed to collectively manage and protect its resources.

• Proposed changes would remove the un-proclaimed provision for conservation authorities to issue stop work orders, a new tool in our enforcement toolbox that we had long requested from the province. This tool would provide the ability to stop significant threats to life, property and environmentally sensitive areas before having to resort to costly fines and prosecution.

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Raise your voice...Take Action Now. Support Conservation Authorities and Our Environment

It’s time, now more than ever, to stand up for your local conservation authority. The SSMRCA is encouraging residents and watershed partners to reach out to the following individuals to request them to:

• Repeal Schedule 6 of the Budget Measures Act (Bill 229)
• Continue to work with conservation authorities to find workable solutions to reduce red tape and create conditions for growth
• Respect the current conservation authority/municipal relationships
• Embrace their long-standing partnership with the conservation authorities and provide them with the tools and financial resources they need to effectively implement their watershed management role

Respectfully tell your MPP, Ross Romano that conservation matters and ask him to Remove Schedule 6 from the Budget Bill, so that these significant changes can be properly debated and informed through consultation.

Please take a few minutes and send an email in one easy step, expressing your concern along with our friends at Ontario Nature to:

• Your MPP Ross Romano (Sault Ste. Marie) ross.romano@pc.ola.org
• Minister Philips, Minister of Finance, minister.fin@ontario.ca, 
• Minister Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, minister.mah@ontario.ca
• Minister Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, minister.mnrf@ontario.ca
• Minister Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, minister.mecp@ontario.ca

 

Connect with us on social media. Show your support on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #ConservationMatters.

 

Additional information

Conservation Ontario

MEDIA RELEASE: Province Tying Conservation Authorities Up in Red Tape – Repeal Schedule 6

Coverage and Response to the Conservation Authorities Act

The request to remove the proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities Act has received overwhelming support from organizations and citizens throughout Ontario. Below are the links to all the articles and letters of support.

Conservation Authorities Links

• Conservation Matters (CVC)
• Changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and Planning Act Present Potential Risks to People, Property and the Environment (CVC) 
• Conservation Authorities Act: Bill 229 (CH)
• Changes to the Conservation Authorities Act - Bill 229 (GSCA)
• ABCA concerned with changes to Act (ABCA)
• Proposed Changes to Conservation Authorities Act Pose Risk to Environment & Public Safety (CRCA)
• Changes to CA Act Will Impact NPCA Watershed Management & Progress Made On AG Recommendations (NPCA)
• Proposed changes to Conservation Authorities Act and Planning Act puts people, property and our environment at risk (NVCA)
• GRCA Chair calls special board meeting in response to proposed changes to Conservation Authorities Act (GRCA)
• HCA’s preliminary response to the Province’s proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities Act (HCA)
• Letters to Ministers 1, 2 (KCCA)
• A Letter from the CAO (CLOCA)
• LTVCA Asks for Full Repeal of Province’s Proposed Amendments to CA Act & Planning Act (LTVCA)

 

Partner/Citizen Organizations Links

• Ontario Nature
• Ontario Nature - Nearly 100 groups tell the Ontario government it is unacceptable to use MZOs to override wetlands protections
• Environmental Defence
• Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)
• CELA Webinar(>1,200 participants on November 17, 2020). Presenters: Anne Bell, Director of Conservation and Education, Ontario Nature, Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence, Anastasia Lintner, Special Projects Counsel, Healthy Great Lakes program, CELA and Deborah Martin-Downs, Chief Administrative Office, Credit Valley Conservation
• People Plan Community
• Ontario Urban Forest Council
• Toronto Field Naturalists
• Wilderness Committtee
• For Our Kids
• Letter from Greenbelt Council

Media Links 

• Local conservation authority stands to lose its decision-making powers on permits (Sootoday)
• Conservation authority says Ontario's COVID-19 budget bill would 'negate' its fundamental role (CBC)
• Ontario Morning from CBC Radio (CBC)
• Sudbury watershed agency raises red flag over Conservation Authorities Act changes (CBC)
• Canada’s parks are the ultimate essential service (The Globe and Mail)
• The developers are all in control’: Doug Ford’s government moves to limit the power of conservation authorities, sparking fears for the environment (Toronto Star)
• How the Ford government is upending the local planning process (Toronto Star)
• Watershed experts rip Ford government’s proposed changes to conservation laws (Toronto Star)
• Conservation changes ‘detrimental to Ontarians,’ says Grey Sauble official (Toronto Star)
• Shame on Ford’s treatment of conservation authorities (Toronto Star)
• Is this Durham wetland the place to take a stand against the Doug Ford government’s blows again the environment? (Toronto Star)
• Doug Ford’s provincial government putting environment at risk, says Greenbelt Council (Toronto Star) | Letter from Greenbelt Council
• Conservation Ontario Recommends Removing Schedule 6 from Bill 229 (Water Canada)
• Approaching The Watershed (NRU Publishing Inc.)
• News coverage from the Niagara region
• Say NO to Schedule 6 attack on Conservation Authorities (Aware Simcoe)
• Ontario is gutting Conservation Authorities (Oakville News)
• Under cover of COVID, the Ford government is paving our wetlands (Hamilton Spectator)
• Conservation authorities raise concerns about provincial changes (The Observer)
• Conservation authorities fear loss of power (North Bay Nugget)
• St. Clair Conservation Chimes in on Bill 229 Issue (I05.7 Strathroy)