Conservation Toolbox: Province reviews legislation

NRU
July 22, 2015
By Leah Wong

With communities facing new pressures as a result of climate change, growth and land use changes the province is reviewing its Conservation Authorities Act to ensure authorities have the tools to continue their protection of people and property from water-related natural hazards.

On Monday the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry launched its discussion paper on the act, which seeks feedback on the governance, funding mechanisms, roles and responsibilities of conservation authorities.

“Conservation authorities play an important role in ensuring Ontario remains the beautiful, healthy and green province that it is,” natural resources and forestry parliamentary assistant Eleanor McMahon said in a media release. “As pressures on our environment increase, we need to ensure that this valuable tool is modernized to meet the climate change challenge of this generation.”

The original act was established in 1946 to address decades of poor land, water and forestry management practices that had led to flooding, erosion, deforestation and soil loss.

The act was amended in 1996 and 1998 to give conservation authorities and participating municipalities more flexibility to decide local priorities and charge fees for approved services.

Regulatory responsibilities were added to include additional water-related hazards in 2006.

Conservation Ontario general manager Kim Gavine told NRU in recent years the role of conservation authorities in regards to flood management mitigation has changed with the increased occurrence of extreme weather events. She added that authorities’ expertise makes them uniquely positioned to assist the province with its climate change mitigation goals.

“Through our flood/hazard mapping and stormwater management expertise conservation authorities are at the forefront of hazard management,” said Gavine.

“This allows CAs to identify and minimize risk to infrastructure, buildings and people and assess change over time.”

The governance model for authorities has changed overtime as municipalities started to play a bigger role in decisions around authority activities. Many authorities have developed partnerships with other provincial ministries and organizations, though under the current act there is no framework that governs these relationships so they are managed on an authority-by-authority basis.

“The conservation authorities would like to see a better understanding and appreciation for the role conservation authorities play in integrated watershed management - involving natural resources, people and the economy,” said Gavine of the review. She added that it is important these three things are taken into consideration when solutions are proposed.

As the province’s role in managing authorities has changed, so has the funding model. In the past the province and municipalities had a 50/50 funding partnership.

“Today, conservation authorities derive the majority of their budgets from local municipalities in the form of levies,” said Gavine. The percentage of the budget from levies varies on the size of the agency and the municipal tax base, but is generally in the 40-60 per cent range.

Through the review the province seeks to address how current funding mechanisms are working and if authorities should have the ability to use other revenue tools.

Conservation authorities also offer a wide range of programs and services from conservation, acquisition and management to the promotion of green infrastructure. Under the current act authorities can develop programs and services that are tailored to their capacity and expertise and which address local needs.

Because authorities are involved in a variety of activities the province is reviewing whether there should be any changes to the roles and responsibilities authorized under the act. The review seeks to clarify responsibilities and eliminate duplication of service delivered by the ministry and conservation authorities.

The public and other stakeholders have until October 19 to submit comments on the discussion paper.