The Town of Parry Sound and Township of the Archipelago are not on board with the province’s plan to reduce the number of conservation authorities by 75 per cent.
The Ford government announced plans earlier this month week to regionalize conservation authorities, cutting their numbers from 36 to nine, to reduce administrative duplication, redirect resources to front-line conservation, and modernize permitting.
Local municipalities have recently passed resolutions objected proposed changes to conservation authority boundaries and governance.
Council of the Corporation of the Township of The Archipelago formally requests that the Province of Ontario maintain local, independent, municipally governed, watershed-based Conservation Authorities, and…further be it resolved that Council does not support the proposed “Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority” boundary configuration,” states a resolution passed by both local councils.
Officials with the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) have also spoke out, calling for Northern communities to be fully engaged during the transition.
“FONOM supports efforts to modernize systems that protect our watersheds and help move critical housing and infrastructure projects forward,” says President Dave Plourde. “At the same time, Northern Ontario has unique geographic and municipal realities that must be considered as these changes move forward.”
Recommendations include:
• Dedicated Northern Ontario consultation sessions;
• Clear communication regarding governance, funding, and transition planning;
•Consideration of phased or regionally tailored implementation approaches;
•Continued municipal involvement and oversight to preserve local expertise and community trust
“Local expertise and relationships are essential in the North, and any consolidation must ensure that knowledge and responsiveness are preserved,” says Plourde.
Pending approved amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act, the transition is expected to be completed early next year.
