WHEREAS the Town of Tecumseh is a member of the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) and is represented on their Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS the Board of Directors determines the policies, priorities, programs and services, and budgets of the Essex Region Conservation Authority in an open and transparent manner; and
WHEREAS the solutions to the problems the Essex Region is facing - great lakes water quality, climate adaptation, land degradation, habitat loss and endangered species, sustainable growth and development, and flooding and erosion - require the integrated, watershed-based programs and services delivered by the Essex Region Conservation Authority in partnership with municipalities and others; and
WHEREAS the ‘conservation authority model’, that was recently highlighted by the Provincial Flood Advisor as an extremely effective model for reducing flood risk, and a reason why Ontario is better situated to deal with flooding and climate change than other provinces; and
WHEREAS Conservation Authorities provide essential service to municipalities in their watersheds and deliver programs effectively, efficiently and in a cost-effective way; and
WHEREAS the Province of Ontario is reviewing the programs and services delivered by Conservation Authorities.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Tecumseh request that the Provincial Government maintain the ‘watershed approach’ to ensure that Conservation Authorities continue to deliver appropriate, watershed-wide programs and services to address the issues they are facing in their region; and
THAT the Provincial Government ensure that any changes to the legislation and regulation continue to allow for municipalities and conservation authorities the flexibility of including programs and services important to local circumstances of direct relevance to its watershed mandate, and further;
THAT the Province include experts from Conservation Authorities, staff of the Ministries of Natural Resources and Forestry, Environment Conservation and Parks as well as Municipal Affairs and Housing and municipalities when developing the draft regulations; and
THAT the Province of Ontario maintain funding of Conservation Authorities to a level sufficient to allow maintenance of hazard programs; and further
THAT this resolution be forwarded to the Premier, the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, all local MPPs, the Essex Region Conservation Authority Board of Directors, Conservation Ontario, municipalities, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.