Significant changes to Conservation Authorities Act (CA Act) were initialized with the Royal Assent of Bill 229, Protect, Support and Recovery From COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures), 2020. Since that time, and through the proclamation of specific provisions within the CA Act, as well as the passing of Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 687/21, conservation authorities are required to develop and implement a Transition Plan and establish Agreements to deliver certain programs and services. The overall objective of the Province of Ontario is to ensure that conservation authorities are operating in-line with the prescribed Objects as outlined in the revised CA Act, and to align budgets with Mandatory Programs and Services and Non-Mandatory Programs and Services, as outlined in O. Reg. 686/21. CAs have been afforded the opportunity to meet all of the legislated requirements through a two-phase approach that covers the overall Transition Period, which ends on January 1, 2024.
The following Transition Plan identifies ERCA’s plan to meet the identified outcomes within the allotted time period.