Town to send letter in opposition to proposed conservation authority consolidation

Amherstburg will be sending a letter in opposition to having the 36 conservation authorities into seven.

If provincial legislation goes forward, the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) would become part of a new Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority stretching from Windsor to the Guelph region. Councillor Molly Allaire, who is the chair of ERCA, put forth the motion that council unanimously supported.

The motion called for the Town of Amherstburg to submit comments to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) “expressing its opposition to the Province’s proposed conservation authority consolidation, supporting the rationale and concerns outlined in the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) resolution, and further expressing the Town’s concern that such consolidation may result in additional financial and operational burdens being downloaded onto municipalities.”

Allaire stated the ERCA board of directors passed “an important resolution” Nov. 13, “one that speaks clearly to what our community needs as the province moves toward a plan to consolidate Conservation Authorities.”

Allaire put forth highlights that ERCA is looking for including full consultation with  municipalities on how both a new regional authority and a local agency would be funded; a strong local voice that’s accountable to the people who live here, ensuring timely, transparent decisions for our watershed; local expertise that understands our unique landscape and can deliver programs at the right scale; local offices that continue to serve residents directly, even if a larger regional office is created; clarity for Conservation Authorities that also operate foundations and a transparent costing of what amalgamation would actually require.

“The government says merging 36 Conservation Authorities into seven large regional bodies will be ‘more efficient.’ But for those of us along the Lake Erie shoreline, in one of Ontario’s most flood-prone regions, this proposal raises serious concerns,” said Allaire. “It risks dismantling a system that works, one built on accountability, local knowledge, and watershed-specific solutions.”

According to Allaire,  ERCA is already modernizing and she cited such initiatives as digital permitting, faster turnaround times, cost-saving reviews, better communication, and more transparency. 

“All this is already in place,” said Allaire. “We’ve proven you can meet these goals without tearing down local governance.”

Allaire said that what ERCA found most troubling was that Conservation Authorities only learned of the provincial legislation hours before it was announced.”

“There’s been no evidence that consolidation will improve environmental protection, development approvals, or service delivery. I want to do everything I can as the chair to protect our Authority, however I do feel our municipality will be affected not only by service levels, but also by costs downloaded onto our municipality, and I am concerned of our shoreline protection and water source protection,” she said. “Also I want to encourage everyone to write in on the environmental registry of Ontario. Go online to the environmental registry of Ontario and search item 025-1257.”

Allaire feared decisions could come from 300 kilometers away and impact the local region.

Councillor Diane Pouget said she fully supported Allaire’s motion. Pouget said Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy has raised concerns over beach closures due to E.coli and how close it could be to water intakes.

“I’m really, really concerned if we don’t have ERCA representing us, and trying to filter out all the herbicides and all these other things into our rivers where we get our water, this could jeopardize the health and safety of our residents,” she said.

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb said to lump Essex County, which has water on all three sides in with other areas, “is really counter-intuitive.” Gibb said he had concerns it was “one more step” in taking away local representation, saying school boards “are in the province’s radar” and now conservation authorities.

“What’s next?” he asked, wondering if local municipalities could be impact in the future.

Mayor Michael Prue said he would like to see the letter carbon copied to other Essex County municipalities and Essex County council.

“This was briefly debated at the county council meeting (last Wednesday) and it was agreed that since ERCA is funded by local municipalities and not the county, the onus was on us,” he said. “I’d just like them to know what we’re passing here tonight so they can do the same thing.”

Prue added the county said it could be raised in another format. Allaire accepted Prue’s amendment, stating it shows “we are taking action.”

Town to send letter in opposition to proposed conservation authority consolidation

By Ron Giofu