August 20, 2019 – In a surprise letter issued Friday evening, August 16, 2019, Mr. Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), shocked Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) officials by suggesting that the Conservation Authority begin to “wind down” all programs, except for flood control, drinking water source protection, and management of Authority-owned lands.

The letter goes on to note that the Conservation Authority cannot replace flood protection funds, recently cut by the Province, through additional municipal levies. This is an essential service that protects lives and property, and work that must continue. Who, then, is to pay the bill for a program that ensures people are protected from flooding? How is the UTRCA expected to interpret these contradictory messages?

Without any clarification from the Province, the UTRCA is left wondering what Minister Yurek’s letter is actually saying. His directive potentially leaves these programs on the chopping block:
– All water quality monitoring programs, thereby eliminating decades of science that has guided protection and improvement efforts.
– All water quality improvement programs, including work with farmers and developers to provide technical assistance and financial incentives to reduce soil erosion, nutrients and toxins from being delivered to watercourses. This despite increasing public concerns about blue-green algae blooms, beach closures from high bacteria, and fish kills from degraded conditions.
– All tree planting and woodlot management as the UTRCA combats the ongoing loss of 47 hectares (116 acres) of natural cover in the watershed, every year.
– Curriculum-based environmental education programs that arm youth with information to make smart decisions in the face of flooding and climate change impacts.
– Trail development and outdoor recreation opportunities, despite increasing demand and increasing awareness of the many physical and mental health benefits for watershed residents.
– Support for community organizations such as the Friends of Medway, Friends of Stoney Creek, and the Upper Avon Conservation Club. These efforts help mobilize and organize local environmental interest in action and improvement.

It should be noted that the Province does not provide funding for any of these programs as the UTRCA secures support through municipalities, special contracts, user fees, donations, and support from the private sector.

“We question the Province’s authority to make this request, in light of the fact that they fund less than 1% of the UTRCA programs,” said General Manager Ian Wilcox. “The Province has not consulted with the watershed municipalities that oversee the Conservation Authority and provide 30% of our funding. Our municipal representatives bring the priorities of their watershed communities to the table, to ensure our programs are responsive to local needs.”

“We’ve been frustrated by the lack of communication from the Province,” said UTRCA Chair, Mr. Sandy Levin. “The CAs, along with their member municipalities, have made repeated requests for consultation. These provincial announcements have been without warning and, to be blunt, make no sense in terms of public interest and support from private businesses. They jeopardize Ontario’s environmental future and economic prosperity. Future costs to restore Ontario’s economic and environmental balance will far exceed the cost of the programs that the Ford Government seems intent on eliminating.”

“We have to ask who these changes will benefit,” said Ian Wilcox, UTRCA General Manager. “Increasing the risk to lives and property is not the appropriate solution to solving the housing crisis. Is this another government that is going to ignore climate change and leave it for future generations to pick up the pieces?”

“We hope that the Province, through Minister Yurek, will reconsider implementation of these changes pending further discussions with the Authority and our member municipalities, but we’re concerned decisions have already been made that we know will be regretted in the future.”

Contact: Ian Wilcox, General Manager, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority