By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Chatham-Kent has officially joined the chorus of voices opposed to sweeping changes on the way for Ontario’s conservation authorities.
Under Bill 68 – an omnibus bill passed by the province in November – Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities will be downsized into seven mega- conservation authorities. Under the legislation, the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority will become part of the Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority – covering Southwestern Ontario from Hamilton to Windsor and Sarnia.
The St. Clair Conservation Authority, covering the Sydenham River in north C-K, will also become part of the Lake Erie authority.
All told, the new authority will blend eight conservation authorities and 81 municipalities in an area with a population of more than two-million people.
At the Dec. 15 meeting, council voted to push back against the government’s plan following a presentation from LTVCA chief administrative officer Mark Peacock.
According to Peacock, the merger will remove local oversight, noting municipalities who fund the conservation authorities may have less say in matters affecting watersheds within their area.
“This is probably the most important thing to happen to conservation authorities in our 80 years of history,” Peacock told council, saying Bill 68 will create “massive organizations” as opposed to smaller authorities with local governance.
However, member municipalities will still be required to come up with most of the funding.
Another issue, said Peacock, is the fact that local people donate land to their local authorities – often in memory of a loved one.
According to a government website, the province plans to create the overarching Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, saying it will centralize operations, streamline permitting and enhance front-line operations.
Public comments on the proposed changes on the Environmental Registry of Ontario closed Dec. 22.