While Conservation Authorities across Ontario worry the provincial budget reduces their ability to protect people from natural hazards, the President of the Saugeen Regional Landowners Association calls the proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities Act a step in the right direction.
Bob Weirmeir said the recent Ontario budget bill brings Conservation Authorities closer to their original mandate of flood, drought and erosion control.
"I feel the changes are good. I'm really happy that there's going to be oversight and accountability. It's our tax dollars, we should know where it's being spent," he said.
Weirmeir felt the changes included in the recent budget bill are minimal and the result of thorough consultation, which he participated in.
Weirmeir is pleased that the members of council who sit on Conservation Authority Boards who were voted in as councillors by people in the municipality can represent their municipality under the proposal.
"That has been a big bone of contention for a little while, that if they're on the board of directors they're supposed to do what the Conservation Authority says, and that's not why we elected our officials to be there," he added.
He added conservation authorities do not need to issue permits for building in hazard areas.
"I believe that the permit system and a lot of what they're doing is a duplication. If you are building any kind of a structure and they deem it to be a hazard land or something, the building inspector can look at that and say yes or no," he continued.
He said the Ministry of Natural resources created the hazard maps and can help guide the decision along with municipal planning departments.
He said building inspectors can use the expertise of their planning departments to determine the impact of building in a hazard zone.
He continued people have to pay for the permit, with no guarantee it will be granted, and they have to pay for each inspection. He says the system is too onerous on the taxpayer.
Weirmeir supports the repeal of issuing stop work orders and not allowing warrantless entry onto private property. He said it basically stops an unauthorized police force, with no accountability, from being formed. He added all safeguards are still in place through the municipality, as in stop work orders and entry onto property, if there are grounds for immediate intervention.