The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is a public sector organization established by local municipalities under the Conservation Authorities Act, to develop and deliver watershed-based resource management programs on behalf of the Province and participating municipalities. The 18 municipalities located in the Rideau Valley watershed appoint representatives who serve on the Board of Directors to oversee the programs of the RVCA. These appointed directors, who are members of Council or citizen appointees, speak on behalf of all watershed residents along with an agricultural representative appointed by the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Taxpayers, municipalities and our natural systems will bear the costs of the Province’s affordable housing legislation released last month. 

Email your MPP using our Sample Letter (Word Document)

While the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority strongly supports efforts to address the ongoing housing crisis, many of the proposed changes related to conservation authorities will have significant impacts and costs while doing little to increase housing supply.

Proposed changes and their impacts: 

• Weakening the regulatory ability of CAs to protect people and property from natural hazards like flooding, erosion and slope failures - leading to greater risk of property damage and public safety.
• Eliminating the CA’s ability to address water quality issues through planning and permitting, leading to increased nutrients and sediment in lakes and rivers. We know from the 1990s this causes excessive weed growth and algae blooms that have economic impacts on property values, agriculture, tourism, recreation, fisheries and sources of drinking water for many residents.
• Reducing wetland evaluations and protections, leading to increased flooding, erosion and drought, as well as diminished groundwater, which is the source of drinking water in much of rural Ontario. Studies have shown the loss of wetlands in the Rideau watershed would increase flood levels by 10%.
• Downloading more responsibilities to municipalities who have indicated will lead to inefficiencies, delays and increased risk and costs.
• Freezing development fees, which will pass development costs to taxpayers instead of growth paying for growth. 

Take Action

To learn more or to provide input on the proposed changes, visit the Environmental Registry of Ontario for these Notices:

• URGENT: Closes Dec. 9, 2022: Legislative and regulatory proposals affecting conservation authorities to support the Housing Supply Action Plan 3.0 (ERO number 019-6141)
• Closes Dec. 30, 2022: Proposed updates to the regulation of development for the protection of people and property from natural hazards in Ontario (ERO number 019-2927)
• Closes Dec. 30, 2022: Proposed changes to natural heritage protections and regulations (ERO number 019-6161)

Or use our sample letter to email your MPP: 

• Sample letter against Bill 23 impacts to Conservation Authorities (Word Document) 

More Resources:

• Eastern Ontario CA joint submission to the Province (PDF)
• Media Release: RVCA responds to Bill 23
• Media Release: Eastern Ontario mayors endorse CA joint letter sent to Province