The Doug Ford government is seeking to consolidate the province’s 36 conservation authorities into seven regional regional conservation areas.
Much of southwestern Ontario would fall into the Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority, which would cover watersheds draining into Lake Erie, including the Thames, Grand, and Sydenham systems, supporting agriculture, industry, and shoreline communities.
Locally, this would include the Kettle Creek and Catfish Creek Conservation Authorities.
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks in a letter to Mayor Joe Preston and members of city council assuresd, “The new regional conservation authorities would remain independent organizations operating with municipal governance and oversight, in accordance with requirements under the Conservation Authorities Act, as administered by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
“In addition, the important work that conservation authorities do to protect people and property from the risks of flooding and other natural hazards will not change. Regional conservation authorities would continue to deliver provincially mandated programs.”
“So we’re going to continue to deliver our existing programs, protecting people from our natural hazards, source water drinking protection and management of lands and recreational trails, including all our public access to our recreational areas and such.”
We spoke with Dusty Underhill, General Manager of the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority, who conceded the word ‘consolidation’ is certainly not music to his ears.
What impact will consolidation have on educational programs like the annual maple syrup festival at Springwater Conservation Area?
Underhill continued, “Again, we’ve seen different amendments to the Species at Risk Act. There’s been a lot of different acts that have seen amendments due to these, or I guess the Building Homes Faster Act in Ontario and other different bills that are through the Environmental Registry of Ontario right now.
“So there are, you know, there are changes happening, but we’re working progressively with these folks to try and maintain our stature on things.
“So again, our service delivery, we’re not lacking anything that way. The environment’s always first. People, places, and perspectives are always key in this industry, and we’ve got to keep moving forward.
“Again, we’re going to work with the province to make this the best agency it can possibly be.”
Meantime, at the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority (KCCA), General Manager Elizabeth VanHooren released a media statement noting that conservation authorities have always worked collaboratively with member municipalities to “champion local solutions that respect watershed boundaries.”
VanHooren continued, “With each reiteration of the Conservation Authorities Act, the KCCA has always emerged stronger and more resilient to the benefit of our local watershed residents, our municipalities, and our shared natural environment.
“Together with our member municipalities and board of directors, we will review the details of the province’s proposal to establish regional conservation authorities and provide thoughtful, evidence-based feedback.
“Our focus will be to ensure that under any new framework, we can continue to deliver the same responsive, locally informed programs and services that our watershed communities depend on.”
VanHooren assured, “In the meantime, it remains business as usual for watershed protection, permitting, and conservation area operations. KCCA will continue to deliver high-quality programs and services that protect people, property, and the environment.”
Written by Ian McCallum
