ERCA receives more letters opposing provincial bill proposing consolidation

Staff and board members with the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) are expressing thanks for the support they are getting relating to them remaining a standalone conservation authority.

Additional letters were received by the board at last week’s ERCA board of directors meeting in Essex. 

Letters are opposing regional consolidation of conservation authorities, a move that if passed by the province, would see 36 conservation areas become seven and Essex County and Windsor be part of the Lake Erie Conservation Area and extend as far as Guelph.

Tim Byrne, CAO with ERCA, said they are receiving letters from groups and organizations from companies and businesses they didn’t expect, but that they do appreciate.

In his written report to the board, Byrne stated: “As evidenced in correspondence from previous board meetings and as attached to this report, Essex Region Conservation Authority has received strong local support from municipalities, First Nations, the development industry and variety of stakeholders, urging the province to take a measured, science-based approach that preserves local decision making. Advocacy for the region continues as interested parties, including ERCA, continue to inform local MPPs of concerns, and discussions continue to ensure provincial representatives have a fulsome understanding of the work undertaken by ERCA and the impact to the region should local expertise, guidance and decision making be reduced or eliminated through consolidation into larger regional entities.”

Letters received at the Feb. 12 meeting, many of which were copied to ERCA but addressed to provincial officials such as Windsor-Tecumseh MPP and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Andrew Dowie, were from the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, the Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors (WECAR), the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), Setterington’s Fertilizer Service, and the University of Waterloo’s Wetland Lab.

At last month’s meeting, ERCA stated that all local municipalities expressed opposition to consolidating the conservation authorities into seven entities. 

“It’s a little bit surprising but not shocking,” Byrne said of those who are speaking out.

Byrne added he is expecting movement on the file in March. He added other conservation authorities are asking ERCA on how the latter is garnering the support it is, with Byrne stating much of it is “grassroots and community based.”ERCA board member Kieran McKenzie wanted more information about stewardship of assets, with Byrne stating “it’s a complete unknown.” Many assets ERCA has in its control currently were bequeathed or donated to them and ERCA and local municipalities have helped pay for maintenance.

McKenzie added he is a board member with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) added the issue as been raised there as well.

“There’s almost a universal sense of frustration around this,” said McKenzie.

ERCA chair Molly Allaire added meetings are continuing with stakeholders on the issue. She added given the winter weather the area has received, there were concerns over runoff, flooding and ice damage.

ERCA receives more letters opposing provincial bill proposing consolidation

By Ron Giofu