Category: News Releases
Conservation Ontario: Province Releases Consultation Guide on Legislative Regulations Impacting Conservation Authorities
May 19, 2021The following is a media release issued by Conservation Ontario.
NEWMARKET ONTARIO (May 17, 2021) – The Province has begun its broader consultation on the proposed regulations to support conservation authority programs and services under the Conservation Authorities Act.
The Guide is titled REGULATORY PROPOSAL CONSULTATION GUIDE: Regulations Defining Core Mandate and Improving Governance, Oversight and Accountability of Conservation Authorities. Agencies and individuals have 45 days to submit their feedback on the proposed regulations.
“We appreciate the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks engaging a wide range of stakeholders in the development of this regulatory proposal consultation guide and we thank the Working Group members for all their efforts,” said Andy Mitchell, Chair of Conservation Ontario, the umbrella organization for Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities.
Mr. Mitchell explained that Conservation Ontario will be working with its conservation authority members to examine the proposed regulations and will provide comments during the consultation period.
“Our goal is to ensure the regulations facilitate the conservation authorities’ commitment to protect people, property and the environment while demonstrating transparency and accountability,” he said.
A Working Group was established by the Province in January 2021 and their first task included looking at the first phase of proposed regulations that impact conservation authorities and their participating municipalities.
Its membership consisted of representatives from conservation authorities, Conservation Ontario, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario as well as the development and agricultural sectors. Hassaan Basit, President and Chief Executive Officer of Conservation Halton is the Chair of the Working Group.
Conservation Ontario will continue to engage the government as work continues on developing the regulations.
Feedback on the proposed regulations is due June 27, 2021 and can be submitted to the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
Long Point Region Conservation Authority Camping Status Update
April 15, 2021
Seasonal Camping begins May 1, nightly camping and day-use access currently on hold
Long Point Region Conservation Authority’s camping season is approaching quickly but elements of the season are impacted by the Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order enacted on April 8. Seasonal camping will begin as planned on May 1, 2021 but nightly camping and day-use access to LPRCA’s campgrounds is prohibited while the Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order is in effect.
Seasonal Camping
The provincial restrictions currently in place permit camping on sites secured with a full season contract. Therefore, seasonal campers with LPRCA are permitted to access and use their seasonal sites beginning May 1. Please note that seasonal campers must have their paperwork and payments processed through the Administration Office before they may access their site, paperwork and payment will not be accepted at park gatehouses. Please contact the Administration Office at conservation@lprca.on.ca or 519-842-4242 if you have not yet completed your seasonal registration.
Nightly Camping
Nightly camping is not permitted under the Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order. With the restrictions extending into the beginning of May, nightly campsite reservations for the start of our operating season are impacted. Reservation holders for this time period will be notified that their reservation has been cancelled and refunds will be issued automatically through the online reservation system.
Day-Use Access
Under the Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home order, campgrounds must be closed to the public. This means LPRCA’s Conservation Areas with campgrounds – Backus Heritage, Deer Creek, Haldimand, Norfolk and Waterford North Conservation Areas – are fully closed to day-use.
Long Point Region Conservation Authority will continue to monitor and follow the latest information from the government and health authorities and will resume nightly camping and day-use access to our campgrounds when it is deemed safe to do so. Updates and changes to offered services will be posted to our website and social media accounts.
Thank you for your support and understanding as we work together to keep our communities safe.
Lake Erie Shoreline Flood Warning (Event Message #1)
March 25, 2021Effective immediately, Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) is issuing a Flood Warning for the entire Lake Erie shoreline within its jurisdiction.
Environment Canada has issued a gale warning for Lake Erie, forecasting strong southwesterly winds beginning early Friday and are expected to reach 45-55 km/h with gusts up to 90 km/h late morning while slowly diminishing into the evening.
Models are currently forecasting Lake Erie to rise in Long Point by 0.6 meters above the current level to an elevation of 175.14 meters (IGLD 1985) and in the Port Colborne area 1.5 meters to an elevation of 176.03 meters (IGLD 1985). Strong winds are expected to cause wave heights up to 2.6 meters in the Long Point area and up to 1.7 meters towards the eastern limits of the watershed. Water levels are expected to peak early afternoon on Friday.
With the forecasted winds, flooding is expected to impact low-lying areas along the Lake Erie shoreline and lower reaches of some tributaries. Minor flooding of roads in Long Point, Turkey Point, and Port Dover with depths of 0.1 to 0.2 metres can be expected. Wave uprush and increased shoreline erosion can be expected from this event.
Haldimand County residents and businesses within LPRCA’s watershed should be aware flooding could reach Lake Erie Flood Zones 3. The public is advised to familiarize themselves with flood warning zones mapping in Haldimand County on their website.
Community flood coordinators are asked to monitor conditions along the lakeshore.
The public is asked to stay away from the Lake Erie shoreline due to strong wave action and elevated water levels and follow the direction of local flood coordinators and emergency officials. Parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from these areas.
LPRCA staff will continue to monitor conditions throughout the watershed and will update this message as necessary.
This Flood Warning for the Lake Erie shoreline is in effect until 8:00 AM, Saturday, March 27, 2021.
Contact Matt Churly at 519-427-4423 should further information be required.
Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety (Event Message #1)
February 27, 2021Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) is issuing a Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety for all areas within its watershed.
Current forecasts are calling for an additional 5-10 mm of rainfall this weekend in addition to the 10 mm received last night. The combination of rainfall and above freezing temperatures are expected to melt the remaining snowpack throughout the watershed resulting in rising stream levels and possibly nuisance flooding in low-lying areas.
People are warned to stay away from ditches, frozen waterbodies, streams, rivers, and ponds as the combination of slippery banks and cold, fast-flowing water is dangerous. Ice conditions on watercourses, ponds, and reservoirs are expected to deteriorate and should be considered unsafe. Parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from these areas.
Landowners are also advised to make sure dams, culverts, and catchbasins are free from debris and functioning properly.
Water levels are expected to rise throughout the weekend and remain elevated into next week. LPRCA staff will continue to monitor watershed conditions and will update this message as necessary.
This Flood Outlook is in effect until 12:00 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2021.
Contact Ben Hodi at (519) 842-4242 x231 should further information be required.
Lake Erie Shoreline Flood Warning (Event Message #1)
February 4, 2021Effective immediately, the Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) is issuing a Flood Warning for the entire Lake Erie shoreline within its jurisdiction.
Environment Canada has issued a gale warning for Lake Erie, forecasting strong southwesterly winds beginning early Friday and are expected to reach 65 km/h with gusts up to 85 km/h in the late morning, slowly diminishing into the evening.
Models are currently forecasting Lake Erie to rise in Long Point by 0.5 meters above the current level to an elevation of 175.2 meters (IGLD 1985) and in the Port Colborne area by 1.0 meters to an elevation of 175.6 meters (IGLD 1985). Strong winds are expected to cause wave heights greater than 2.4 meters in the Long Point area and up to 1.7 meters towards the eastern limits of the watershed. Water levels are expected to peak around noon on Friday.
With the forecasted winds, flooding is expected to impact low lying areas along the Lake Erie shoreline and lower reaches of some tributaries. Minor flooding of roads in Long Point, Turkey Point, and Port Dover with depths of 0.1 to 0.2 metres can be expected. Wave uprush and increased shoreline erosion can be expected from this event.
Haldimand County residents and businesses within LPRCA’s watershed should be aware flooding could reach Lake Erie Flood Zones 1. The public is advised to familiarize themselves with flood warning zones mapping in Haldimand County on their website.
Community flood coordinators are asked to monitor conditions along the lakeshore.
The public is asked to stay away from the Lake Erie shoreline due to strong wave action and elevated water levels and follow the direction of local flood coordinators and emergency officials. Parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from these areas.
LPRCA staff will continue to monitor conditions throughout the watershed and will update this message as necessary.
This Flood Warning for the Lake Erie shoreline is in effect until 6:00 pm, Friday, February 5th, 2021.
Contact Ben Hodi at 519-842-4242 ext. 231 or by email at bhodi@lprca.on.ca should further information be required.
Planning & Permitting Services Continue to be Available
January 14, 2021Long Point Region Conservation Authority’s Planning & Permitting Department is working remotely, providing service and support by phone and through email.
Health and safety is at the forefront of all of LPRCA’s work. In accordance with the provincial stay-at-home order and expert health advice. LPRCA staff in all departments are working remotely wherever possible with stringent safety protocols in place for essential work that cannot be done remotely.
The Planning & Permitting department is working remotely at full capacity, continuing to accept and review development applications and issue permits. While the province has designated only certain construction work essential, the planning and permitting process can continue for all projects, helping ensure permits are issued in an efficient and timely manner.
Submit planning applications and inquiries, by email, to planning@lprca.on.ca.
For information on planning and permits, including fees, forms and interactive mapping tools, visit the Planning & Permits section of the LPRCA website. The LPRCA Administration Office can be contacted by phone at 519-842-4242.
Conservation Ontario: Province Misses Chance to Respond to Ontarians’ Concerns About the Environment
December 8, 2020The following is a media release issued by Conservation Ontario.
The Province just missed a chance to show they are listening to Ontarians who care about their environment.
Ontario’s Budget Measures Act (Bill 229) was passed today with Schedule 6 intact, and in fact, bolstered with the addition of Minister Zoning Orders’ which could force a conservation authority to issue a permit even if it goes against their provincially-delegated responsibility to protect people, infrastructure and the environment. This is in addition to the already concerning amendments which included new powers for the Minister to bypass conservation authorities and issue permits as well as curtailing the CAs’ ability to appeal to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.
“The Budget Bill is all about financial recovery from pandemic conditions and this could have easily been accomplished in ways that didn’t sacrifice Ontario’s environment and our unique watershed approach” says Kim Gavine, General Manager of Conservation Ontario, the agency which represents conservation authorities.
“A more proactive approach may have been to use this bill to support the development of a stream of new, greener economic activities that would boost the economy and help to build environmental resilience, not break it down,” Gavine suggested.
Conservation authorities had hoped that the Province would respond to calls from conservation authorities, municipalities, environmental agencies, agricultural agencies, Indigenous organizations and thousands of individual Ontarians and withdraw Schedule 6 from the Budget Bill.
“Our challenge, now, will be to operationalize the Province’s amendments which we’re quite certain will create additional delays and costs for municipalities, applicants and conservation authorities, themselves,” Gavine points out. “Using an overburdened tribunal system (Local Planning Appeal Tribunal), allowing applicants to appeal CA decisions directly to the Minister and – ensuring compliance around the Minister’s permits will be some of what creates those delays and costs.”
Gavine pointed out that the amendments diminish the roles and responsibilities of conservation authorities and of Ontario’s much lauded science-based watershed approach and this was quite evident to the people who contacted the Province over the past few weeks to complain.
“It was really fantastic to see the wide range of people and agencies who understood the importance of what was happening,” Gavine says. “They immediately picked up on both the short and long-term impacts of these changes and were very direct in their messages to the Province. It’s unfortunate that it wasn’t enough.”
Gavine points out that CAs and Conservation Ontario now have to direct their attention to the regulations that provide the details around the changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and says she hopes they will get the attention, assessment and public input that they deserve.
Conservation Ontario: Changes Fall Short of Addressing Conservation Authorities’ Concerns
December 5, 2020The following is a media release issued by Conservation Ontario.
New changes made to the Schedule 6 amendments proposed for conservation authorities (CAs) fall well short of addressing their concerns and even introduce new additions which create more delays and costs, as well as allow the Minister to disregard CA science-based decision-making for development.
“We have to continue to ask the Province to withdraw Schedule 6 of Bill 229,” says Kim Gavine, General Manager of Conservation Ontario, the association that represents the 36 conservation authorities. “These changes don’t address our concerns and further erode our ability to protect people, property and our environment.”
While it appears that a few amendments around board governance may address some of our concerns and those of our municipal partners, Gavine points out that, overall, the proposed changes don’t go far enough, particularly around planning, permitting and enforcement.
As well, a new section has been added to Schedule 6 which requires the conservation authority to issue a permit when the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing issues Ministers Zoning Orders (MZO) which can override conservation authority science-based decisions. In fact, the new section requires the conservation authority to issue the permit even if the application does not meet the criteria for issuing a permit and/or contravenes provincial policies and plans. Bottom line – the criteria for issuing permits is for protecting lives and property against flooding and other natural hazards.
The addition of the MZO section and all of the other changes, combined, will create even more delays and costs, not just for conservation authorities but also for municipalities and applicants, Gavine points out.
Many amendments still remain such as those that remove and/or significantly hinder the conservation authorities’ role in regulating development. The Minister will still be allowed to make decisions on permit appeals and issue permits without watershed data and expertise from the conservation authorities.
As well, Conservation authorities find themselves in a position where they are basically the only landowners in Ontario who cannot appeal most planning decisions which affect their lands. Gavine points out that conservation authorities are the second largest landowners in Ontario and this seems to conflict with one of the Province’s proposed mandatory programs that CAs are to manage their own lands to protect sensitive ecosystems.
Conservation Ontario made a presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on November 30th. These are available on our website: https://conservationontario.ca/policy-priorities/conservation-authorities-act/standing-committee-submissions
Conservation Ontario: Province Tying Conservation Authorities Up in Red Tape – Repeal Schedule 6
November 18, 2020The following is a media release issued by Conservation Ontario.
Conservation Ontario (CO) recommends the Province repeal (remove) Schedule 6 which amends the Conservation Authorities Act and the Planning Act because the changes being proposed will create more red tape and higher costs for Ontario taxpayers as well as threaten the independent watershed-based approach used by conservation authorities (CAs) in land use planning.
There are a number of proposed changes contained in Bill 229: Protect, Support and Recover from COVID 19 Act (Budget Measures Act) which Conservation Ontario believes will have the potential to add significant delays and costs in conservation authority enforcement, planning and permitting processes as well as ultimately have the potential for significant impacts on Ontario’s ability to provide cost-effective flooding and natural hazards management/protection and drinking water protection to Ontarians.
The proposed amendments are not administrative but, in fact, could have significant environmental impact due to decisions being made without consideration of the local watershed science and data provided by conservation authorities.
“The changes the Province is proposing will achieve the opposite of what they say they want to do which is to reduce red tape and create conditions for growth,” said Kim Gavine, General Manager of Conservation Ontario. Conservation Ontario represents Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities which are community-based watershed management agencies. Conservation Ontario was already on track with addressing these issues through CO’s Client Service and Streamlining Initiative which rolled out last year.
Through a review of the current permit review process, Conservation Ontario estimates that the new changes to the permitting appeals process could delay approvals by as much as 200 days. As well costs can be expected to increase due to more staff time being required for permit appeals processes rather than time being spent on actually issuing permits.
Changes to regulatory enforcement tools will also increase costs. During the pandemic, conservation authorities have been experiencing an increase in illegal activities on CA-owned and/or regulated lands. Extensive remediation costs and damages to neighbouring properties can be avoided if tools such as enhanced powers of inspection and stop (work) orders are available to CA officers.
Conservation Ontario feels that if the changes around the planning appeals process proceed, we run the risk of the plan review process having a piecemeal approach which could ultimately create the potential for cumulative negative environmental impacts.
“What the Province is proposing to do through the changes in Schedule 6 significantly threatens the independent, watershed-based approach of Ontario’s conservation authorities that municipalities and others rely on to protect our natural resources and to steer development away from creating or exacerbating flooding and other natural hazards,” Gavine said. “This isn’t what you would expect a government to do in light of the growing and more complex climate change impacts we are experiencing.”
“Conservation authorities bring the local watershed science to the planning process. They apply this knowledge in permit and planning application reviews. With the new ability of the Minister to issue a permit, it’s not clear what science the Minister will rely upon to review an application and issue a permit. The proposed changes raise the risks of having the permitting process veer away from a science-based decision,” Gavine says.
“Conservation authorities rely on science-based watershed information to ensure that Ontario’s communities are protected from upstream to downstream,” Gavine points out.
Conservation Ontario is encouraging residents and watershed partners to reach out to the Premier, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as well as their local MPPs to request them to repeal Schedule 6 of the Bill 229: Protect, Support and Recover from COVID 19 Act (Budget Measures Act).
Additional Resources
- Backgrounder: Concerns About Changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and Planning Act Which Affect Conservation Authorities
- More information on the proposed changes to Schedule 6: Conservation Authorities Act – Conservation Matters
- Email your representatives: Retain the Current Mandate of the Province’s 36 Conservation Authorities
Flood Warning Termination (Event Message #3)
November 16, 2020The Flood Warning issued on Sunday, November 15, 2020 for the Lake Erie shoreline is now terminated.
During Sunday’s event, Lake Erie flood levels reached an elevation in the Long Point/Port Dover area of 176.0 metres (IGLD85) and 176.5 metres (IGLD85) in Port Colborne. This event produced flood levels similar to those reached on October 31, 2019.
Lake Erie static water levels are expected to remain near record highs over the coming months. High static water levels increase the risk of flooding caused by moderate to severe wind-driven surges. Strong lakeshore surge events typically occur from fall through spring.
Due to the forecast for high lake levels, the previously issued Shoreline Conditions Statement – Lake Erie Flood Outlook remains in effect until further notice.
LPRCA staff will continue to monitor forecasted conditions and will update this message as necessary.
Contact Paul Gagnon at 519-842-4242, extension 232 should further information be required.