CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES BRANCH 



The Conservation Authorities Branch was transferred from the Department 

 of Economics and Development to the Department of Lands and Forests on 

 January 1, 1962. 



Originally the Conservation Branch was established in the Department of 

 Planning and Development in 1944, and charged with the administration of The 

 Conservation Authorities Act, 1945. The name of the Department was later 

 changed to Economics and Development, and the name of the Branch to Con- 

 servation Authorities Branch. 



The work of the Conservation Authorities Branch is concerned with or- 

 ganizing Conservation Authorities in Ontario and directing and assisting these 

 Authorities in carrying out conservation projects within the watersheds under 

 their jurisdiction. The Branch is also concerned with the administration of The 

 Grand River Conservation Act, 1938, and The Parks Assistance Act, 1960. 



Three Conservation Authorities were formed in 1946, immediately follow- 

 ing the passage of The Conservation Authorities Act. In the years since, a total 

 of 31 Conservation Authorities have been formed, of which 27 are in Southern 

 Ontario, and four in Northern Ontario. It should be clearly understood that 

 a Conservation Authority is a body corporate, and can undertake almost any 

 type of conservation work. It is only when it obtains a government grant for 

 a project that the Conservation Authorities Branch takes the necessary pre- 

 cautions to see that money is wisely expended. This is one of the main func- 

 tions of the Field Officer appointed by the Department. 



Conservation Authorities involve the concept of local responsibility for 

 the development and management of resources. The Act gives an Authority 

 power to undertake programs in all fields of conservation. Initiative to form a 

 Conservation Authority under the Act must come from the municipal level. 

 When once formed, the responsibility to carry out a program essentially re- 

 mains with the Authority. 



Formation of Conservation Authorities 



The steps to be taken in the formation of a Conservation Authority are 

 indicated in Sections 2 and 3 of The Conservation Authorities Act. 



Conservation Authorities are formed on the basis of the watershed or 

 drainage area of a stream or group of streams. The first step in the formation 

 is for two or more municipalities within the watershed, or area being considered 

 for a Conservation Authority, to petition the Minister of Lands and Forests to 

 call a meeting for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not it is desirable 

 that an Authority be established. Following the receipt of such petitions a 

 letter is sent to the clerks of all municipalities either wholly or partly within the 

 watershed, informing them of the date, time and place of the meeting. All muni- 

 cipalities are entitled to appoint representatives to attend this meeting, the num- 

 ber of representatives being determined on the population basis. Two-thirds 

 of the representatives must be present to make the meeting legal. If two-thirds 

 of those present vote in favour of forming a Conservation Authority, a resolution 

 is forwarded to the Minister requesting that an Authority be established. The 

 Authority is then made legal by an order-in-council. Under The Conservation 



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