Ontario’s massive covid-19 relief bill (Bill 229) will result in radical changes to Ontario’s conservation authorities (CAs), and the CAs are not happy about it. They feel the changes will prevent them from doing what they were set up to do: Protect the environment and keep communities safe from flooding and other natural hazards. For example, the bill will limit the ability of conservation authorities to protect wetlands from development. Wetlands are important for:
- Water filtration
- Cleaning
- Bird migration
- Wildlife habitat
An estimated 70% of Canadian wetlands have already been destroyed, and Ontario holds about 22-29% of remaining Canadian wetlands. Wetlands are important for adapting to climate change, as they help buffer us from extreme weather events such as heavy rain and flooding.
CAs help protect wetlands through their ability to veto construction in these sensitive areas. Under Bill 229, developers would be able to go around CAs and have the province approve permits. As a result, local planning decisions that could result in wetland loss and increased flooding could be based on high-level political influence rather than what’s best for people actually living in the watershed.
Another concern about the changes is they are tucked into a massive budget bill rather than posted on the Environmental Registry for the people of Ontario to comment on.
Conservation Ontario says, “These are not administrative budget-related amendments but rather are significant amendments impacting public policy and for which adequate and specific public consultation has not occurred. These proposed amendments are deserving of the sober second thought provided through specific consultations and then debate in the Legislature.”
The Canadian Environment Law Association says the proposed changes to CAs are another example of a trend of using omnibus budget bills to change environmental laws significantly, sidestepping Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights.
To learn more, check out the below resources…and consider contacting your minister of parliament to let them know how you feel about the changes.
- We need our conservation authorities – Canadian Environmental Law Association webinar
- Proposed provincial changes for conservation authorities deserve more discussion – Conservation Ontario blog
- Province’s Bill 229 limits ability to protect the environment, conservation authorities say
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