Environmental advocates are taking issue with the Ontario government’s BILL 229 rule changes affecting the provinces three dozen conservation authorities. ONTARIO CONSERVATION says some of what’s proposed will undermine certain powers of conservation authorities when it comes to development. General Manager at St. Clair Region Conservation Authority Brian McDougall says one thing he’s concerned about is changes to representation on the conservation authority’s board.
Another concern is giving direct decision making power over proposed development in environmentally sensitive areas, to the Minister of Natural Resources. Developers would be able to appeal conservation authority decisions directly to the Minister and the agencies would also lose the ability to appeal municipal planning decisions.
