Abstract

Ontario Conservation Authorities (CAs) were established in 1946 as a partnership between the Ontario provincial government and municipalities. Initially, their purpose was to apply a catchment or watershed approach to provide services and programs to reduce risk from flooding and erosion through an integrated approach to water and land management. In 2021, there are 36 Conservation Authorities. We consider key changes the Ontario Government has initiated or will be initiating related to CAs which are: (1) The relevant provincial Minister will have authority to approve specific development proposals or for an entire class of permits for a specified period of time in areas within CAs, even if the CAs oppose such development because the proposals involve areas vulnerable to flooding or other related hazards; and (2) Applicants for development permits will be able to appeal directly to the Provincial Minister and also the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) if their application is turned down by the Hearing Board of the relevant CA. This commentary describes key issues that have been historically noted as ‘problematic’ for previous and the current Provincial Governments, and shares information and insight on those matters. The conclusion considers whether the changes represent an end, an evolution, an interlude (an intervening period, an opportunity to recalibrate or refocus) or an epiphany (a moment of insight or understanding), or some combination thereof, for the CAs.

摘要

安大略省自然保护局 (CA) 成立于 1946 年，是安大略省政府和市政当局之间的合作伙伴关系。最初，他们的目的是应用集水区或流域方法来提供服务和计划，通过水和土地管理的综合方法来降低洪水和侵蚀的风险。到 2021 年，共有 36 个自然保护机构。我们认为安大略省政府已经启动或将启动的与 CA 相关的关键变化是：(1) 相关省级部长将有权批准特定的开发提案或在特定时间内在指定时间内在CA，即使 CA 反对此类开发，因为这些建议涉及易受洪水或其他相关危害的地区；(2) 如果申请被相关 CA 的听证委员会拒绝，开发许可的申请人可以直接向省部长和地方规划上诉法庭 (LPAT) 提出上诉。这篇评论描述了历来被认为是前任和现任省政府“有问题”的关键问题，并分享了关于这些问题的信息和见解。结论会考虑这些变化是否代表 CA 的结束、演变、插曲（中间时期、重新校准或重新聚焦的机会）或顿悟（洞察或理解的时刻），或它们的某种组合。