Collingwood may be taking a stand next week against a potential merger of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) and the Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority (LSRCA), if councillors vote in favour.
At council’s regular meeting on March 31, council will consider a motion originally put forward by Coun. Christopher Baines for the town to oppose the amalgamation of the two authorities, which is an option currently being explored by Oro-Medonte Township and could come before County of Simcoe council next month.
“(The) NVCA and LSRCA serve distinct and separate watersheds, each with unique ecological, planning and regulatory considerations, including LSRCA’s additional responsibilities under the Lake Simcoe Protection Act,” reads the motion. “No independent, expert analysis has been conducted to determine whether an amalgamation would improve efficiency and service delivery.”
It’s been more than two months since Oro-Medonte Township Deputy Mayor Peter Lavoie introduced a motion at that table that called for the amalgamation of the two authorities.
So far, Wasaga Beach and the Town of the Blue Mountains have given the proposal the thumbs down, as has the NVCA’s board of directors.
In an email to Village Media on March 14, Lavoie said he hopes to be able to “more precisely frame the reasons supporting amalgamation which are not at all those currently set out in the press” in the near future.
He said he expected the township will bring the motion to Simcoe County council for discussion in April, but to date has not made his reasons public for bringing the motion forward.
Meanwhile, Collingwood’s regular council meeting takes place on March 31 starting at 2 p.m. Any members of the public may attend in person in council chambers at Collingwood town hall, or virtually by Zoom webinar. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel here.
-- With files from Wayne Doyle
