The relationship between the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) and Springwater Township council continues to erode.
For the second time in eight months, township council has expressed its concerns over the permit-approval timelines residents are facing for projects that require NVCA approval.
At the last meeting before summer recess, Springwater council voted to send a letter to various provincial ministers requesting a meeting to discuss the municipality's ongoing concerns regarding resident wait times for receiving permit approvals, and the cost and complexity of the studies being requested as part of the permit approvals.
The letter was sent via email on July 10 to Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin, who is also the province's minister of the environment, conservation and parks, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Graydon Smith and Minister of Red Tape Reduction Mike Harris Jr. A copy was also sent to Premier Doug Ford.
Shelley Westlake-Brown, executive assistant to the mayor, council and chief administrative officer for Springwater Township, confirmed late Tuesday afternoon that there is a virtual meeting scheduled with Minister Smith’s policy staff on Aug. 15.
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks acknowledged receipt of the letter and confirmed that the minister would consider the request.
Westlake-Brown said there has been no response from the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction.
Coun. Brad Thompson introduced the motion to send the letter after he was contacted by a township resident who was concerned about the length of time it was taking to get an approval from the NVCA for a pole barn and accessory building on his property.
According to Thompson, the resident started the approval process on Aug. 17, 2023. A month later, on Sept. 19, the resident received a letter from the NVCA advising him that the file was deemed complete and gave him a 60- to 90-day timeline for the approval.
A week later, the resident contacted the NVCA and asked when the 60 to 90 days started. He didn’t receive a response, Thompson said.
On June 17, 2024, the resident received his approval.
“Three hundred and five days from the original application, 277 days from the time, according to the NVCA, that the file was deemed complete,” Thompson said. “I don’t think this is good for anybody.
“It’s not good for the NVCA and it’s certainly not good for our residents,” he added.
Thompson said this was not the first time he’s heard residents complain about the NVCA. He was thrilled to see the provincial government has accepted the township's invitation to talk.
"I'm very happy that the provincial government is going to assist us with finding solutions to our concerns," Thompson said Wednesday morning. "I would like to find a way to work with the NVCA to see an improvement in services offered to our residents."
Four other members of council — Councillors Matt Garwood and Danielle Alexander, Deputy Mayor George Cabral and Mayor Jennifer Coughlin — noted they had also received calls from residents who had issues dealing with the NVCA.
Coun. Phil Fisher, who sits on the NVCA board, said he was aware of residents’ concerns regarding delays with the NVCA approval process, but it was the first time he’s heard of this particular incident.
“I’ve actually talked to many residents about their experiences with the NVCA,” said Fisher. “In a few cases, I’ve been able to insert myself and we’ve had some really positive outcomes. I don't doubt there are delays, but it might be a bit premature to write a letter.”
Coun. Anita Moore agreed.
“In the six years that I’ve been sitting here, I can honestly say that I haven’t had a single complaint about the NVCA. Not a single complaint,” Moore said. “I think this letter is an overreach.”
Moore suggested a letter to the NVCA expressing the township’s concerns would be a better step.
Coughlin said that’s already been done and she doesn’t consider the letter to ministers as an overreach.
“I don’t want to drop the ball for our residents,” the mayor said. “I’m not suggesting conservation authorities across Ontario do not serve a purpose. I think there’s a great purpose, but I've been hearing for a decade that the relationship between the NVCA, our residents, stakeholders and businesses is fractured.
“We need a solution,” she added.
Doug Hevenor, chief administrative officer for the NVCA, agreed with Coun. Moore. He said in an email to BarrieToday that sending a letter to ministers was “a bit of overreach at this time.”
“I would suggest the NVCA encourages and welcomes dialogue with our watershed residents along with staff and members of council to discuss our processes, timelines and issues identification,” Hevenor wrote in his email.
“We would be pleased to schedule a meeting with Mayor Coughlin, Coun. Thompson, NVCA (board of directors) member Fisher and any other interested parties to discuss these matters including CAO (Jeff) Schmidt and staff," he added.
Hevenor said despite claims to the contrary, the conservation authority is meeting its obligations. He said the NVCA has tracked permit review and approval timelines in the watershed since 2020.
Specifically, he added, there have been 243 permits and clearances under the Conservation Authorities Act in Springwater Township between November 2020 and July 3, 2024. Of those applications, 223 (or 92 per cent) were processed on time, as defined by provincially established timelines.
“The ability to consistently meet provincial timelines for permit application review is a demonstration of the NVCA’s strong commitment to positive and timely client service,” he said.
Hevenor added that since April 1, 2024, when new regulations came into force, the NVCA has received eight permits and met the required Conservation Authority Liaison Committee (CALC) timelines on all eight permits.
According to the new regulations posted on the NVCA website, NVCA will review an application within 21 days, and let the applicant know if their application is complete, or if there is missing information.
Regardless of whether a permit is minor or major, NVCA staff have 90 days to make a decision on the permit application once it has been deemed complete.
