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3 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,N ovem ber 26,2020 theifp.ca Our 20th An nual 45 Mountainview Road North, Georgetown, Ontario 905.877.7958 e-mail: hassellsauto@bellnet.ca • www.hassellautomotive.comSALES & SERVICE HASSELL AUT - Oil & Filter (Includes up to 6 litres regular oil.) - Complete top to bottom check over. - Installation of winter tires (already on rims) included. - $5.00 Tim's Card - Windshield Washer Fluid - 12 Pack of Pop EXTRAS $9495*Call for an Appointment Prices are +HST $7495*7495* Only Synthetic oil (up to 6 litres)*Most Vehicles. hassell automotive sales & service 45Mountainview RoadNorth, Georgetown, Ontario 905.877.7958 e-mail: hassellsauto@bellnet.ca • www.hassellautomotive.com Silver 2018 Halton Hills Our 21st Annua l NOWON!HASSELL AUTOMOTIVE Super WINTER Specia l Halton's mayors and the board of Conservation Hal- ton (CH) are calling on the province to scrap planned changes to the Conserva- tion Authorities Act, which many say will drain conservation authorities of their ability to protect the environment. On Nov. 17 the four may- ors joined members of the CH board of directors in sending a letter to Premier Doug Ford and Minister of the Environment, Conser- vation and Parks Jeff Yu- rek requesting they engage in expedient consultations with conservation authori- ties over the proposed changes contained in the 2020 Ontario budget. In the meantime, the group wants the potential amendments withdrawn. Hassaan Basit, presi- dent and CEO of Conserva- tion Halton, discussed some of the issues he has with the province's propos- als in an online appeal to the community for assis- tance. "Conservation Halton has legislated responsibili- ty to ensure development does not occur in flood haz- ard areas and that our creeks, valleys and wet- lands are not adversely im- pacted. We work hard to en- sure new development is balanced and that our com- munities are safe and liv- able, with ample green space," said Basit. "The amendments pro- posed by the provincial government outline a pro- cess whereby developers and others can go around conservation authorities to have permits approved by the province directly." Currently, conservation authorities can deny devel- opers building permits un- der certain circumstances. Basit also voiced con- cerns about another pro- posed change that would require all municipally ap- pointed members of con- servation authority boards to be elected officials. Basit said putting peo- ple on those boards who are required to represent the interests of their re- spective municipalities, as opposed to the interests of the conservation authori- ty, creates a setting ripe for conflict of interest. In an email statement, Ministry of the Environ- ment, Conservation and Parks spokesperson Lind- say Davidson argued the changes will improve the governance, oversight and accountability of conserva- tion authorities, while re- specting taxpayer dollars by giving municipalities more say over the conser- vation authority services they pay for. "The proposed changes would provide a new mech- anism for the province to become involved in the is- suance of permits, where there are matters of pro- vincial interest," said Da- vidson. "The scope of this mech- anism will be further de- termined through the de- velopment and consulta- tion regulations." He noted conservation authorities will still be able to provide advice and sup- port to municipalities and the province for appeals of Planning Act decisions. Davidson also pointed out the changes will let the minister, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, appoint a tem- porary administrator to as- sume control of all a con- servation authority's oper- ations if it was determined that conservation authori- ty has failed or was likely to fail to comply with provin- cial law. On Nov. 16 Oakville councillors voted unani- mously to direct the prov- ince to repeal or alter their proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities Act. During the meeting, Oakville Mayor Rob Bur- ton referred to the pro- posed changes as an at- tempt to "gut" the conser- vation authorities and "an attack" on their integrity. He said the new legisla- tion would remove or sig- nificantly hinder the abili- ty of conservation authori- ties to participate in and support local planning ap- peal processes. Burton also said the changes would let the min- ister of natural resources and forestry make deci- sions on development pro- posals without the consid- eration of local conditions, conservation authority board approved policies, watershed data or techni- cal expertise. Davidson said conserva- tion authorities will con- tinue to have a core role in preparing and protecting against the impacts of nat- ural hazards, maintaining and managing conserva- tion lands, and roles in drinking water source pro- tection. "In the coming weeks, the ministry will be devel- oping and consulting on upcoming regulations un- der the Conservation Au- thorities Act," said David- son. "We will consider the feedback as we move for- ward to ensure we put con- servation authorities in the best position possible to be able to deliver on their core mandate." NEWS MAYORS WANT PROVINCE TO STOP PLANS TO 'GUT' CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com