In an effort to conserve money and improve efficiencies, Oro-Medonte’s deputy mayor wants the two local conservation authorities that provide services to the township to become one.
At Wednesday’s township council meeting, Deputy Mayor Peter Lavoie introduced a motion to amalgamate the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) and the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA).
The Severn Sound Environmental Association (SSEA), which also provides services in Oro-Medonte, is unaffected by Lavoie’s motion because it’s an environmental association, not a conservation authority.
Lavoie believes the township would benefit if the two conservation authorities became one.
As a first step in the potential amalgamation process, he asked staff to arrange a meeting with the municipalities that would be affected.
“The Township of Oro-Medonte believes there to be advantages of economics, consistency, timeliness and governance to amalgamate the authorities,” Lavoie’s motion reads.
“The Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario, Part III, Section 11 provides for a participating municipality to call a meeting to consider the establishment of one authority to have jurisdiction over the areas that are under separate jurisdictions.”
Lavoie said the retirement of Doug Hevenor from his role as chief administrative officer (CAO) at the NVCA presented the township with an opportunity to contemplate the amalgamation.
“The purpose of this motion is to put the wheels under that process to get it started,” Lavoie said, “so each of the municipalities can decide to their own benefit whether it’s something worth doing.”
During a 2025 budget meeting on Nov. 27, the NVCA requested $279,093 for 2025 and the LRCA requested $98,431.
Lavoie’s motion was passed by council.
LSRCA CAO Rob Baldwin was aware the motion was being tabled. However, his counterpart at the NVCA, interim CAO Sheryl Flannagan, was not.
“Yes, I was aware of the motion, but not who was tabling it,” Baldwin said in an email. “This is a municipally driven decision and now that the motion has passed, it will begin a prescribed process under the Conservation Authorities Act.
“My team and I will support the directive we’re given and, if required, will engage with municipal partners, the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and the province to better understand what amalgamation would entail," he added.
Flannagan was equally co-operative.
“Although (the) NVCA was not aware of this motion being presented for discussion, we are always interested in exploring opportunities for collaboration across jurisdictions,” Flannagan said. “While we govern two separate jurisdictions, (the) NVCA has a terrific working relationship with LSRCA and shares best practices for our programs and services.
“During my tenure as interim CAO, my goal is to lead our team at NVCA to provide even better customer service to all of our municipalities across all programs,” she added.
According to the Conservation Authorities Act, there are specific milestones that must be met and the motion must be approved by the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority includes the cities of Barrie, Kawartha Lakes and Orillia, the County of Simcoe, the regional municipalities of Durham and York, the towns of Aurora, Bradford West Gwillimbury, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, Innisfil, Newmarket, New Tecumseth, Whitchurch-Stouffville and the townships of Brock, King, Oro-Medonte, Ramara, Scugog and Uxbridge.
The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority includes the City of Barrie, the Municipality of Grey Highlands, the towns of the Blue Mountains, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Collingwood, Innisfil, Mono, Shelburne and Wasaga Beach and the townships of Adjala-Tosorontio, Amaranth, Cleaview, Essa, Melancthon, Mulmer, New Tecumseth, Oro-Medonte and Springwater.
