Two local conservation authorities are sounding the alarm about proposed provincial legislative changes.
Both the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and Lower Trent Conservation say potential changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and Planning Act will negatively affect residents and the environment.
The local authorities say the changes presented in the Bill 229 will limit conservation authorities’ role in protecting ONtario’s environment and ensuring people and property are safe from natural hazards.
Some of the outcomes of proposed changes that are of concern to the GRCA and LTC are:
– Removing and/or significantly hindering the conservation authorities’ role in regulating development, permit and planning application appeal process and engaging in review and appeal of municipal planning applications.
– Allowing the Minister to make decisions on permit appeals and issue permits without watershed data, knowledge, and expertise from the conservation authorities.
– Redirecting the fiduciary role (Duty of Members) for municipally appointed CA Board members. Decisions are to be made in the best interest of each municipality and not the conservation authority which is contrary to corporate governance models.
– Authorizing the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to issue an order to take over and decide a development permit application in place of a CA. Additionally, a permit applicant can request that the Minister review a CA’s decision about a permit application (approved with conditions or denied), at which point the Minister can make any decision, including issuing a permit.
– Removal of the un-proclaimed provision for CAs to issue stop work orders, a new tool in Conservation Authorities enforcement toolbox that CAs had long been requesting from the province. This tool will provide the ability to stop significant threats to life, property and environmentally sensitive areas before having to resort to costly injunctions, fines and prosecution.
Local conservation authorities are asking the provincial government to remove Schedule 6 from Bill 229, and are encouraging local residents to reach out to their member of provincial parliament to request a review in order to address concerns.
You can contact MPP for Northumberland – Peterborough South, David Piccini, by e-mailing david.piccinico@pc.ola.org, calling 905-372-4000 or mailing a letter to his constituency office at 117 Peter Street in Port Hope.
