Allaire returns as ERCA chair with Morrison back as vice chair

The Essex Region Conservation Authority board of directors are (top row, from left): Windsor city councillor Kieran McKenzie, Leamington Deputy Mayor Larry Verbeke, LaSalle Councillor Jeff Renaud, Windsor city councillor Angelo Marignani, Tecumseh Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti, Windsor city councillor Frazier Fathers, ERCA CAO Tim Byrne, Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers, Essex Councillor Jason Matyi, and Lakeshore Councillor Ryan McNamara. Front row (from left): Essex Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais, LaSalle Deputy Mayor Michael Akpata, ERCA Chair and Amherstburg Councillor Molly Allaire, ERCA vice chair and Windsor city councillor Jim Morrison, Tecumseh councillor Tania Jobin and Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey. Absent are Amherstburg councillor Peter Courtney, Kingsville Councillor Thomas Neufeld, Pelee Island Deputy Mayor Dayne Malloch and Leamington councillor Bill Dunn.

The leadership at the top of the Essex Region Conservation Authority’s board of directors remains the same as last year, with an Amherstburg councillor at the helm.

Molly Allaire was acclaimed as the ERCA board chair for a second straight year, with Windsor city councillor Jim Morrison also re-acclaimed as vice chair. The election of the chair and vice chair took place last Thursday evening as part of ERCA’s annual general meeting.

Allaire’s remarks touched on Bill 68, which would see Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities consolidated into seven larger conservation authorities. She said there was “resounding opposition” locally to the provincial legislation and letters were received from every local municipality, area building organizations, Invest Windsor-Essex and others who are against the move.

Accomplishments by ERCA were listed, to a zero per cent budgetary increase to watershed protection, tree planting, the managing of numerous conservation areas, trail building and much more.

Essex MP Chris Lewis presents ERCA CAO Tim Byrne with a certificate honouring Byrne’s 40 years with ERCA.

Allaire delegated to Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Todd McCarthy last week as part of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference in Toronto. She attended as a member of ERCA with Councillor Don McArthur and CAO Valerie Critchley attending on behalf of the Town of Amherstburg. 

 “I was pleased for the opportunity to present the dozens of letters of support from every municipality in our watershed, and from organizations like the Windsor-Essex Home Builders’ Association, the Heavy Construction Association, Invest WindsorEssex, engineers, developers and many more opposing the Province’s proposal and championing ERCA’s critical importance to development initiatives and watershed protection in the local community,” she said. 

Allaire added she and McCarthy discussed that the strength of conservation authorities is the governance framework that allows each authority to customize decision-making to address unique watersheds and local concerns. 

Vice chair Jim Morrison, Byrne, and chair Molly Allaire (far right) recognize Kris Ives (second from right) for her 25 years of service to ERCA.

“I reiterated our board’s position urging the province to consider ‘right-sized models’ that reflect the source protection areas which are defined by science; and to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on the true costs associated with the proposed amalgamation,” she said. “I also asked Minister McCarthy to preserve local governance and decision-making, to protect our local conservation assets and conservation foundation, and to prioritize watershed management principles.”

Kieran McKenzie, a board member and Windsor city councillor, believes this is a key point in time for conservation areas, including ERCA.

“This is a really important moment for the conservation authority,” said McKenzie.

McKenzie said it was “awkward” for some dignitaries in the crowd to hear, but “you need to hear it. We’re not happy.” He called for more public consultation on the matter and for provincial officials to take what they’ve heard from constituents back to Queen’s Park.

Morrison pointed out all local municipalities have voiced opposition to the provincial legislation and have said “this is not a good thing for ERCA or for conservation authorities in Ontario.” He added there would be 81 municipalities in the proposed Lake Erie Conservation Authority.

“We’re all represented here (at ERCA) but we won’t be represented there,” he said. “We really run a tight ship here. I don’t know what the future is going to be. The province has to get this right and I don’t feel very confident. This needs to be looked at more thoroughly.”

Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, was at ERCA’s AGM and said he’s heard feeback on the bill, including the comments made at the Jan. 22 meeting. Feedback has been coming in from across Ontario, he added.

“The government is taking the feedback to heart and we’re looking at it carefully,” said Dowie.

Dowie said he’s been hearing from local officials since the legislation was put forth and plans to continue with that.

“I’ve had open doors with the board and (ERCA CAO) Tim (Byrne),” said Dowie. “Anyone who has wished to speak can speak. Everyone has my phone number.”

The importance of protecting the environment is something Dowie pointed out, noting economies of scale and replicating best practices in all areas could be achieved through the legislation. 

Dowie said he attends the ERCA AGM regularly and has heard comments about provincial legislation before, citing Bill 23 as an example.

“I’m here because it’s my role to listen and find both sides of the issue,” he said.

Allaire returns as ERCA chair with Morrison back as vice chair

By Ron Giofu