Perth Council added their Town’s voice to the growing number of Ontario municipalities opposing the Province’s move to amalgamate Conservation Authorities. A motion passed unanimously at their recent council meeting included the fact that Queen’s Park only provides about 3% of CA funding, while member municipalities cover the lion’s share of the bills.
They approved a letter to be sent to Ontario’s Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, local MP(s) and MPP(s), the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Rural Ontario Municipal Association, the local conservation authority(s), and all municipalities in Ontario. The letter calls on the Province to maintain local, independent, municipally governed, watershed-based conservation authorities to ensure strong local representation in decisions related to municipal levies, community-focused service delivery, and the protection and management of conservation lands.
Councillor Gary Waterfield, the Town’s representative on the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s Board indicated he expected all of the RVCA’s member municipalities to copy the move.
Story by Brian Turner
