Conservation authorities fear 'sweeping' changes in government bill

Three Ottawa-area conservation authorities fear major changes proposed by the Ontario government could cost them their voice in development decisions, particularly when it comes toenvironmentally fragile watersheds.

The province began its review of the role of Ontario's 36 conservation authoritiesa year and a halfago, but the "sweeping" proposals tucked insidean omnibus budget billtabled Nov. 5 still "shocked"the general managerof theRideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA).

It is much worse and it goes much further than we ever would have anticipated.- Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

"It is much worse and it goes much further than we ever would have anticipated," said Sommer Casgrain-Robertson. "These changes are so numerous and so significant that it really goes to the heart of what conservation authorities do and how we function."

While the legislation would affect their budgets, mandatesand boards of directors, Casgrain-Robertson's biggest concern relates to a conservation authority's diminished role in cases where there are concerns about flooding,soil erosion or altering waterways.

The changes aim to "streamline" the development permitprocess, allowing the ministerto decide onpermitapplications andeven override a conservation authority's decision. The bill also allows for appeals tothe Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

Casgrain-Robertson saidRVCA staff make local decisions based on science, and she fears development permit applicationsin watersheds could now become politicized.

"We are not an impediment to development," Casgrain-Robertson said, noting the RVCA approves upwardof 95 per cent of development permits and cut wait times byhalf last year.

Government aimingfor moreaccountability

The Rideau Valley, Mississippi Valley and South Nation conservation authorities have joined counterparts across Ontario in calling on thegovernment to withdraw the proposalsfor more work.

• 'Development at any cost' is how Lakehead Region Conservation Authority describes changes to provincial act

But Ontario's minister of the environment, conservation and parkssaid a minister's power totake part in thepermitprocess "will be rarely used, if at all," and wouldn't "step outside of the science".

Fixes were needed because the appealprocess wasn't working, Jeff Yurek told CBC Sudbury earlier this week.

"What we heard through our consultation was that conservation authorities throughout the entire province were lackingin accountability, transparency and consistency," he said.

• Changes to Conservation Authorities Act could lead to fewer appeals, Ontario's Environment Minister says

The changes toBill 226 worry Ottawa city council, too, because the boards of conservation authorities would be made up solely of municipal councillors,rather than a mix of councillors and residents with expertise, ostensibly to provide better oversight over the spending of tax dollars.

City staff said if the changes go through, nearly every council memberwould need to take a seat on the boardof a conservation authority, and take on the workload associated with it.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario also told the government it had a "growing number of serious concerns," especially "at a time when the public is very concerned about climate change and increased flooding and storm events."

Ontario's standing committee on finance and economic affairs held a hearing on Bill 226earlier this week, and is expected to consider amendments in the coming days.