Ontario has 36 conservation authorities – Grey Sauble and Saugeen Valley Conservation Authorities cover the watersheds of Owen Sound and much of Grey and Bruce Counties. Conservation authorities undertake a wide range of local resource management programs and services, with significant programming diversity amongst conservation authorities. They have a legal mandate to take action to protect sources of drinking water.
Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, said "The people of Ontario need our conservation authorities to be focused on dealing with the impacts of climate change and we must be certain that resources are being directed to programs and services that have the greatest impact on our communities while ensuring effective use of public funding."
"Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our regulations is a critical component of our government's strategy for strengthening Ontario's resiliency to extreme weather events," said John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.Ontario is looking at changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, including:
- changing how conservation authorities use municipal levies to pay for programs and services;
- standardizing the role conservation authorities play in permitting and municipal planning, reducing overlap and making approvals faster and less costly; and
- changing conservation authorities' governance and accountability.
As part of its Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, the province is consulting stakeholders and the public.
source: media release, Government of Ontario
