While you were on holiday, Ontario stripped conservation authority powers

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On Dec. 28, the Doug Ford government told conservation authorities their ability to protect vital watersheds and species at risk would be limited as of Jan. 1

The Ontario government gave municipalities and conservation authorities just three days notice before imposing sweeping changes that stripped away key environmental oversight powers and budgets, reveal leaked letters obtained by The Narwhal.

The government sent two letters, one from Natural Resources Minister Graydon Smith, to city officials around 6 p.m. on Dec. 28, while the offices of city councils and conservation authorities were largely shuttered for the holiday break. The letters fulfilled changes outlined in last fall’s Bill 23, or the More Homes Built Faster Act, quicker than most expected, removing many powers and financial tools conservation authorities use to oversee and protect vital watersheds.

Just days before the letters went out, Ontario’s auditor general expressed concern the government is failing to truly consider expert opinions or the results of public consulations: it is legally mandated to do so “meaningfully” for changes of this nature. The Dec. 28 letters indicated consultations on all changes to conservation authority regulations would conclude on Dec. 30.

As 2023 gets underway, conservation authorities are no longer able to review or mandate changes to development applications that could impact things like significant woodlots, valley lands, fish habitat or species at risk. The agencies were also ordered to freeze fees charged to developers for any reviews done this year.

While you were on holiday, Ontario stripped conservation authority powers | The Narwhal

 

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Here is a another relevant article.

Canada pledged to protect 30% of its nature by 2030. Is Doug Ford standing in the way?

If provincial and municipal governments allow developers to guide where and how they protect the environment, it will be impossible for Canada to meet its goal to protect 30 per cent of the country’s lands and waters by 2030, conservationists warn.

The grim reminder follows the Ontario government’s widely criticized decision last month to open up 7,400 acres of previously protected Greenbelt land for housing developments, despite broad opposition to the plan.

On paper, the amendment from the Municipal Affairs and Housing Ministry is a swap that adds an additional 9,400 new acres to the Greenbelt’s protection area, an “overall expansion” of 2,000 acres.

Although it sounds like the Doug Ford government is leaving the Greenbelt bigger and better, ecological compensation policies like this one are usually an illusion, said University of Waterloo associate professor Rebecca Rooney in an interview with
Canada’s National Observer.

Canada pledged to protect 30% of its nature by 2030. Is Doug Ford standing in the way?