January 24, 2005
CONSERVATION ONTARIO PRESENTATION TO THE PROVINCIAL STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Throughout the month of January, the Provincial Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs has been conducting pre-budget consultations across Ontario. Conservation Ontario and Conservation Authority representatives provided presentations within each of the regional areas where the Standing Committee sessions were held.

Presentations acknowledged 2004 investments and commitments which have benefited the Conservation Authorities including:

• the Government's announcement of $12.5 million funding for source protection planning
• the Provincial investment of $5 million into aging Conservation Authority infrastructure, and
• the approval of the Conservation Land Tax
Incentive Program (CLTIP) regulation for "community conservation lands".

Presentations indicated our understanding that the Government remains committed to provide targeted funding in 2005 to continue source water protection efforts and improvements to aging infrastructure.

The focus of presentations to the Standing Committee was on the need for re-investment into the Conservation Authorities for the implementation of flood and erosion control programs that reduce the risk of death and property damage. Conservation Authorities are responsible for the implementation of flood and erosion control programs in Ontario and currently receive $7.6 million in provincial transfer payments through the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Standing Committee was presented with Conservation Ontario's report entitled "Submission to the Minister of Natural Resources: Re-investment in Ontario's Conservation Authorities - Now and in the Future"(June 2004), which outlines the amount and type of funding shortfall. Conservation Ontario requested that the Province's 2005 budget address the shortfalls identified in its report by increasing the provincial transfer payments for mandated programs of provincial interest from $7.6 Million to $21.4 Million.

*UPDATE: 88% of our member municipalities have passed resolutions in support of this report.

For more information contact:
Bonnie Fox,
Policy and Planning, Conservation Ontario
bfox@conservation-ontario.on.ca