Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Conservation Authority Act changes

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Staff and industry stakeholders are shocked by recent government directions

By Nicholas Van Allen

In midsummer, "conservation authorities (CA) and Conservation Ontario (were) stunned" by a letter from Jeff Yurek, minister of the environment, conservation and parks, Conservation Ontario said in a Aug. 19 press release.

CAs are required by the Conservation Authorities Act to "re-focus their efforts on the delivery of programs and services related to their core mandate," Yurek said in his Aug. 16 letter.

"In the meantime, I request that you review and consider your own conservation authority's activities and begin preparations and planning to wind down those activities that fall outside the scope of your core mandate," he said.

"Finally, I ask that, while we are undergoing this review and updating the legislation and regulations, you do not proceed with any increases to your fees or levies."

Whereas CAs might have sought to increase charges to cover shortfalls caused by budget cuts that the government made in the spring, Yurek indicated this approach was inadvisable.

field by river
    Dorin_S/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo

Conservation Ontario representatives were more than disappointed by the news; they were stunned.

"It was a very pre-emptive move that disregards the process and relationship that conservation authorities and municipalities have together," said Kim Gavine, general manager of Conservation Ontario, in the release.

Ian Wilcox, general manager of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, was also "frustrated and confused" by the move.

"The programs that are most publicly supported, including work with farm communities – such as tree-planting programs – are considered non-mandatory," he said.

But "these (programs) are the reasons why the CAs were formed in the first place," Wilcox said. "We have just been told to stop doing them."

Clarence Nywening "There are changes and there are issues," Clarence Nywening, president of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, told Better Farming. "But we don't have to get rid of all of the Conservation Authority powers to fix them, unless we've got something on board that will make sure that we are protected."

The province now has a gap in environmental oversight, possibly placing our health and watersheds at risk, he said.

Better Farming contacted Yurek's office but did not receive a response before this article was submitted for publication. BF

Current Issue

June/July 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Cattle Stress Tool May Boost Fertility

Friday, June 27, 2025

Kansas State University researchers have developed a cool tool that may help reduce cattle stress and improve artificial insemination (AI) results. The idea came from animal science experts Nicholas Wege Dias and Sandy Johnson, who observed that cattle accustomed to their environment... Read this article online

Ontario pasture lands get $5M boost

Friday, June 27, 2025

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $5 million to strengthen shared community grazing pastures. This funding supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario’s agriculture sector and help cattle farmers improve pasture quality, ensuring long-term sustainability and... Read this article online

Health Canada sets rules for drone spraying

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Health Canada has approved the use of drones, also called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), for pesticide application under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). Drones are considered aircraft by Transport Canada, but Health Canada treats them differently due to their unique... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top