Ontario’s Bill 68 received royal assent last week, and the province is now proposing to merge Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into just seven.
The passing of the bill has already resulted in the creation of the new Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, which allows the province more oversight on conservation authorities’ activities.
The new agency, along with the current conservation authorities located around Lake Ontario and municipal officials, were invited to a meeting on Monday.
Brad McNevin is the CAO of Quinte Conservation, which is proposed to merge with six other conservation authorities to form the Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority.
He said most municipalities are not in favour of the mergers.
“I think that the general sense is that people are in favour of the province’s goal in terms of streamlining and transparency and making sure that we’re providing consistent programs and services across the board, across the province,” he said.
“But for the most part, I haven’t read any municipal resolutions that are supportive of consolidating the 36 conservation authorities into seven.”
Currently, Quinte Conservation has 18 municipalities within their jurisdiction, including Belleville and Madoc, and they contribute financially to the conservation authority’s operations and have board member representation.
“With the new arrangement, new proposed boundaries or new proposed conservation authority regions, that local voice, we’re not sure what will happen with that local voice,” McNevin said.
The province’s proposal states that “the new regional conservation authorities would remain independent organizations operating with municipal governance and oversight.” McNevin said the province has not yet released a transition plan for consolidation.
He said the province has stated there will be no job losses as a result of the mergers, which is a positive aspect. But he still hopes Quinte Conservation could be exempt from the merger because they’re already an amalgamation of three conservation authorities and cover a large area.
The Environmental Registry of Ontario is accepting public comment and feedback on the proposed changes until Dec. 22.
