Feature Article September 9, 2004
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
Conservation Authorities seeking new funding sources
by Jeff Green
A report by Conservation Ontario, an umbrella organization representing the common interests of the 36 Conservation Authorities across Ontario, asks for a significant increase in funding for Conservation Authorities from the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).
The report points out that the total transfer payment to the Conservation Authorities from the MNR was $58,900,000 in 1992. However, the NDP government began cutting funding and then the Conservative government slashed funding to the MNR generally and to Conservation Authorities in particular in 1995. The result is that the burden for supporting Conservation Authority functions has shifted heavily to municipal property taxes.
In 2002, the base year used by the study, total transfers to Conservation Authorities was $7,600,000. The provincial government now contributes only 11% of funding, while municipal governments contribute 40%. In recent years, local municipalities, Central Frontenac in particular, have been balking at paying increases in the 15% range to the three Conservation Authorities whose watersheds fall within its boundaries.
The Conservation Authorities are asking for three things. First, they want the province to pay 50% of the costs of Conservation Authority Activities that are eligible for 50% provincial funding under the provinces own guidelines. This would mean an increase of $9.1 million in provincial funding (again using the 2002 base year as a model).
Secondly, they want to revisit a 1997 Policy and Procedures Manual, which excluded three items that were traditionally carried out by Conservation Authorities from the list of items it was going to support. These items included 1. Municipal plan review; 2. The regulation of development, interference with Wetlands; and 3. Shoreline management. This change was made without consulting the provinces municipal partners. In serving those municipal interests the Conservation Authorities have continued to carry out these activities at a cost of more than $4 million per year. The report asks for the province to return to a 50% funding model for these activities at a cost of $2.1 million per year.
Finally, the report asks for funding to be pegged to increases in the Consumer Price Index to provide a stable funding model in future years.
All in all Conservation Ontario is asking for a total transfer of $21,421,000 from the MNR in 2005, an increase of $13,821,000 from 2004, but still a far cry from the $58,900,000 that was paid out by the province back in 1992.
So far, North Frontenac, Addington Highlands, and South Frontenac have endorsed the proposals, which will be presented to the province soon.
