It is business as usual at the two conservation authorities serving parts of Prescott and Russell, and Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry counties. Legislation making its way through the Ontario legislature will fundamentally change how the local environmental conservation agencies across the province are structured and operate.
On October 31, the Ontario government announced legislation, which if adopted, will create the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA). The intent of the new agency is to provide centralized leadership, efficient governance, strategic direction and oversight of all conservation authorities. The agency will free-up resources for front-line conservation and ensure faster, more consistent and transparent permitting, while supporting conservation authorities in their core mandate of managing watersheds and protecting people and property from natural hazards in an efficient and consistent manner.
Conservation authorities will continue to deliver existing programs such as protecting people and property from natural hazards, drinking water source protection and the management of lands and recreational trails, including public access to local natural areas, as well as other recreational and educational activities.
A consolidation of conservation authorities is expected, but the province has not yet specified how many will be consolidated. Public consultations about consolidation will take place. Currently, there are 36 conservation authorities across Ontario. Except for the Toronto and Niagara regions, and in Northern Ontario, conservation authority boundaries are usually determined by watersheds.
In Eastern Ontario, the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) includes territory in North and South Glengarry, and parts of South Stormont. The South Nation Conservation Authority (SNC) includes territory in all of Prescott and Russell except for Champlain Township, Hawkesbury, and East Hawkesbury Township. The authority also includes parts of North Stormont, North and South Dundas, and Edwardsburg-Cardinal.
According to RRCA Communications Specialist Vincent Pilon, no immediate changes are being made to how the conservation authority operates at this time.
“Local conservation authority programs and services will continue to be offered without disruption, and staff will be maintained,” said a statement issued by the RRCA.
No immediate changes are planned at SNC either, according to Communications Specialist Erin Thorne.
“Our Conservation Authority continues to operate without disruption, and we remain committed to delivering local programs and services that support watershed management. We look forward to engaging with the Province, and we will also be working with our member municipalities to review the proposal and provide comments during the consultation period,” Thorne said.
SNC is headquartered in Finch, while the RRCA is headquartered in South Glengarry.
