NPCA the ‘last line of defence’ to protect environment, says chair
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority was established in 1959
Niagara Region Coun. Rod Foster said during NPCA’s 65th birthday celebrations the Conservation Authorities Act in 1946 was approved by the province at the urgency of farmers, naturalists and sports groups concerned about their lands disappearing because of soil loss, flooding and deforestation.
But it was hurricane Hazel in 1954, said Foster, the outgoing NPCA board chair, that prompted the provincial government to enable conservation authorities to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes and regulate it for the safety of the community. Hazel, the country’s worst hurricane, devastated Toronto and southern Ontario, causing upwards of $100 million in damages (about $1 billion in today’s dollars), leaving 81 dead and 1,900 families homeless.
In the wake of the creation of conservation authorities, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority was established. The first chair was Francis Goldring, a close friend of Mel Swart, an eventual NDP member of provincial parliament representing what was then Welland riding.
“That is pretty amazing,” said Foster, who served two one-year terms as board chair. “Our organization does many things to ensure that we meet our motto ‘Nature for all.’”
On April 19, NPCA celebrated its 65 anniversary at its new board office on Merrittville Highway, in a plaza across from Canada Games Park. John Metcalfe, a Haldimand County councillor and newly elected board chair, said the authority continues to be the “last line of defence” to encroaching development.
“We are doing our best to make sure the conservation areas are protected,” said Metcalf. “But some legislation makes it hard for the NPCA to do its job.”
New provincial rules that came into effect on April 1 broaden some conservation authority powers by allowing them to stop development that threatens to worsen the impact of a natural hazard, such as floods, droughts and wildfires.
But, other changes weaken their ability to protect water quality, reduce the distance between development lands and wetlands, and eliminate the need to acquire permits before building certain small structures.
The new rules strip away some of powers by authorizing the natural resources minister to issue development permits without conservation authority review.
“It continues to be important we do our job,” said Metcalfe. “We know it is hard and difficult, but we have to do it since we are the last line of defence.”
Conservation authorities, especially NPCA, have been through a difficult few years with controversial changes to legislation.
“The NPCA has come a long way,” Chandra Sharma, who became its chief administrative officer on Jan. 1, 2020, told a crowd of politicians, NPCA officials and interested observers.
NPCA during the mid-2010s had “lost faith and trust” with the community and the municipalities, former interim CAO Gayle Wood said in an interview in 2019.
Wood oversaw a radical “transformation” of NPCA involving a complete restructuring of the governance structure and personnel. That included replacing Niagara Region political representatives after a series of firings in 2018, including the CAO, legal challenges from members of the former board, negative staff morale, financial problems and strained relationships with the Region and City of Hamilton. Wood helped stabilize the authority and implement needed reforms as outlined in the province’s auditor general’s report.
Sharma is a former director of watershed strategies and director of community engagement and outreach, among other positions with Toronto Region Conservation Authority. She not only improved NPCA’s relationship with Hamilton, but also helped NPCA settle the new board composition after a bitter dispute.
“(The NPCA) now has a long-term vision rooted in science, preparing to deal with the emerging challenges,” she said.
The new authority board has 10 members, with two representatives each from Haldimand and Hamilton, and the remaining members appointed by Niagara Region. Metcalfe, serving his second term on Haldimand council, was appointed chair, while Stuart Beattie, a citizen representative since 2011, was selected as vice-chair, both unanimously.
During the celebration at the authority’s new board headquarters in the Carolinian Room, Sharma said the need for the authority was highlighted in 2020 with government-mandated lockdowns and restrictive public interactions.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw how important the land was for the community’s well-being,” said Sharma.
Various political officials applauded and honoured the NPCA officials and its staff, including Niagara Region Chair Jim Bradley, Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates, Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini, St. Catharines city Coun. Bill Phillips.
“Conservation authorities have had both friends and enemies because they clash with developers,” said Bradley, adding it’s important to ensure development occurs in the right place and is of the right kind.
“That’s where the (conservation authority) plays a role.”