Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Ontario Trails News - Conservation Act under review

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Province seeks input in attempt to boost conservation efforts

Hamilton Spectator
Conservation Halton is hoping that a review of the Conservation Authorities Act will silence critics who accuse the agency of misusing its powers.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry recently announced a review of the roles, responsibilities, funding and governance of conservation authorities (CAs) under the Conservation Authorities Act (CAA).
According to the ministry, the demands placed on the province's resources have multiplied since the act's inception in 1946. This has led to a system of management that has grown "increasingly complex" between the Province, municipalities and the CAs.
Ken Phillips, chief administrative officer for Conservation Halton (CH), said it's time the province provides some clarity for its resource management strategy to educate people on the responsibilities of Ontario's 36 CAs.
"Some people think we are just a regulator and (conservation authorities) aren't popular. It's the same as someone getting a ticket for speeding, a parking ticket. No one likes the person who has the power to be a regulator, but we're doing our job."
CH manages and protects the environment and natural resources and its jurisdiction spans 1,000 square kilometres of land, 17 creeks, 26 km of Lake Ontario shoreline, forest cover and 80 km of the Niagara Escarpment.
But the role of Conservation authorities can become contentious as it can also control whether a developer can build on an environmentally sensitive chunk of land, even if it's privately owned, for example. And it can hold up the process for homeowners who require a permit from the authority before commencing renovations.
"Critics say we are overreaching our bounds, not acting within our jurisdiction … we're doing our job – to protect the environment and protect human life and property," said Phillips.
The list of responsibilities that falls under the jurisdiction of CAs continues to grow. For instance, Lake Ontario shoreline management and the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act have been delegated to CAs, along with a more active role managing invasive species.
"As the resources shrank at the ministry, conservation authorities were there to pick up the things they weren't capable of doing anymore," said Phillips.
In addition, CAs handle reforestation, flood control, floodplain management, fish and wildlife habitat, water quality monitoring, rural drainage, stream flow monitoring, tourism, municipal plan review, wetlands protection, watershed strategies and erosion control.
Burlington Liberal MPP Eleanor McMahon, parliamentary assistant to Bill Mauro, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, has been mandated to review the Act. In a media release, she recognized the importance of CAs in "ensuring Ontario remains the beautiful, healthy and green province that it is."
"As pressures on our environment increase, we need to ensure that this valuable tool is modernized," she said.
Phillips said one thing that would help with modernization is money.
In 1996, Ontario cut transfer payments administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources to CAs across Ontario from $40 million to $7.6 million. The next year, the ministry committed to 50 per cent funding with municipalities for eligible programs, estimated to be $34 million. To date, this funding has not been provided, with the exception of the Water Erosion Control Infrastructure program.
In 2013, municipal levies accounted for 48 per cent of CA revenue, while self-generated revenue was 40 per cent, provincial funding was 10 per cent and federal funding was two per cent.
"I would hope that more funding options would open up, but I don't think it's going to happen," said Phillips.
The Conservation Halton chief administrative officer's biggest hope is that the review will clarify the responsibilities of CAs to make sure everyone knows they're doing exactly what they've been delegated.
And with a land use planning review of four pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the environment under way, the timing's right, said Phillips. The legislations include the Greenbelt Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Mauro, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, said the review would take into consideration comments from the public, municipal partners and other stakeholders.
"Our government recognizes the importance of managing key natural resources to meet the current and future needs of Ontarians," said Mauro.
A discussion paper has been posted for public consultation. It represents the first step in the ministry's review. Feedback will help identify priority areas for the review and produce a range of perspectives on how to improve the current resource management framework.
To access the discussion paper or comment online, visit the Environmental Registry at www.ebr.gov.on.ca and search for EBR Registry Number 012-4509 or "Conservation Authorities Act."
The deadline for submissions is Oct. 19.
Milton Champion

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Ontario Trail News Summer 2014 - Archive


A new approach is needed to curb the loss of farmland

Guelph Mercury
By Owen Roberts
It's rare to hear much optimism about farmland preservation in Ontario.
Even with such high-profile measures at the Greenbelt in place, we're still losing farmland at a breakneck pace. Last year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture estimated 100 acres of farmland disappears in this provinceevery day to development.
I believe it. Look around at almost any Ontario community, especially now that the growing season is in full swing and the line between farmland and development is clearer.
Recognition is growing that farmland is essential to the future of feeding a hungry world in the eyes of the general public, says the province's other major general farm group, the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario.
Yet sprawl is everywhere. Overall, society has yet to connect the dots when it comes to food production and farmland availability. If it had, we'd see more of a backlash against the kind of farmland disappearance that continues everywhere.
It's said only about five per cent of Ontario land is suitable for agriculture … and for the most part, that's the same land being paved over and used for housing, malls and other uses not related to food production. When it's used for development, it's unlikely it will ever be used for growing food again.
But all's not lost. The Christian farmers' federation thinks there's hope for farmland preservation — and maybe even what it calls "positive gains"— with the new government.
Here's why. In the Liberals' election campaign, a program called Farms Forever was proposed. Basically, it would lessen farmland loss through agricultural easements. The Ontario Farmland Trust explains that through the program, willing farmers would receive tax advantages or other incentives to protect their farms with easements that would prevent future non-agricultural developments on the land, such as housing subdivisions and aggregate pits.


OAKLEY – Liberal Budget: The Greenbelt

Toronto, ON, Canada / Talk Radio AM640


The Liberals are planning to expand the outer boundary of the Greenbelt — about 800,000 hectares of protected land that largely encompasses an area from Peterborough around the western end of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls — a move some say will hurt farmers. This restricts the use of the land along with reducing its value. How will this affect you?

Friday, May 23, 2014

Ontario Trails News - news and activity, hiking, waking, biking, camping - information from all over Ontario's 2600 trails!

Ontario Trails asks Leaders and Candidates to Respond

As we head into the Ontario Provincial election we are often asked by our membership to make sure trail issues are valued by candidates. This year we crafted 9 questions that you may use with your own candidates.

We have forwarded these to the leaders of the 4 major parties.
 
OUTDOORS - There are over 80,000 km of trails in Ontario in 430 communities, these communities may not have an arena, a pool, a library or a church, but they have a trail. If elected, what types of improvements would your government continue to make in the outdoor development sector?
 
• ACTIVE LIVING - Active living is an issue, in both the health benefits from activity and the negative effects of inactivity. Ontario has over 2600 useable active living trails. How would you and your government work with the Ontario Trails Council to promote trail use?
 
• ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION - Ontario has gone to great lengths to develop the GTA Greenbelt, UNESCO Biospheres, the CyclingON Strategy, promote transportation alternatives through funding of increased GO and other mass transportation supports. Would you and your government work with the Ontario Trails Council to develop a layer of inter-connected trails to rails, trails to bus, trails to trains as advocated by individual trail uses, at the provincial level so that all Ontarians would value know of this inter-connectivity?
 
• PROVINCIAL MATCHING FUNDING - Ontario Trails Council Membership is made up of land management groups that work with volunteer groups to make trails, access to funds for trail development is sometimes difficult and programs often change. The Ontario Trails Council did this in 2009-10, and will again in 2014-16 with the federal announcement of funds in the last budget for the National Trails Coalition. Would your government create a dedicated trail infrastructure development fund that could be managed by voluntary sector leaders?
 
• POLICY COORDINATION - Since 2005 Ontario has had an Ontario Trails Strategy. With this came a planning process called the Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee. This partnership won the Province's highest award for intergovernmental cooperation "The Amethyst Award" and developments, these developments include, trail safety by managing user conflict (motorized and nonmotorized harmony); a legislation review, and an award winning website for trails. If elected would you and your lead Ministry for trails make a commitment to ensure that the OTCC meets monthly to manage the affairs of trails?
 
• BUSINESS COSTS - There are issues with liability and operational costs for land owners, or groups that own or operate a trail. The costs of litigation and the process of litigation fail to bring case resolution since often cases are settled out of court. Would your government consider a fund to support the costs or trail litigation, (as they have in Nova Scotia), or the tort (such as the 2009 National Trails Act in the USA) – for trail groups, trail operators and land managers that promote the public good through trail activity?
 
• TRAIL JOBS - Nearly 1 million individuals use the Ontario Trail Website to plan or find a trail. We estimate trails to be a value between $2.5 - $4 billion dollars to the economy each year. We believe that this number is low. Many Regional Tourism Organizations promote outdoor activity, but have not defined the product range for trails. Would your government work with the OTC to ensure that each RTO promotes trails through a joint trail promotion program so that this trail economy could be expanded and developed throughout the whole of Ontario?
 
• PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT - Waterfront development is of value to all. The OTC works with communities in Northern Ontario, Georgian Bay, promoted the development of the Windsor Riverfront Trail, Carolinian Canada, Waterfront Trail Rides, and the Trans Canada Trail. Recently we offered comment to the Ontario Place Revitalization plans. There are 100's of significant destinations and experiences people can enjoy on trails in Ontario. How would your government work to ensure the OTMPC and other government department’s engaged Ontario Trail leaders in developing destination marketing with world-class trail tourism products as a result?
 
• WORLD CLASS EVENTS - The Pan-Am Games are coming to Ontario in 2015. The Ontario Trails Council has worked with Hamilton, McMaster, the Trans Canada Trail, and other communities such as Thunder Bay, and the Pan-Am Path in Toronto to make the games a reality on trails. There are many benefits to communities through world-class events. At the OTC we often hear from Centurion, X-terra, Tough Mudder etc. but there is not enough variety for these event planners to use Ontario. - Do you see an opportunity going forward to promote more trail events in more places through OTC/Ontario/Private sector partnerships?

As you receive local responses please send your answers to the OTC and we'll keep a record of who said what. 


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Standard Freeholder
Your Health -- Kids under 16? No ATVs.
Below are some ATV-related facts compiled and adapted from the Eastern OntarioHealth Unit, Safe Kids Canada and the Canadian Pediatric Society.
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Toronto Sun
No condos on Toronto's Ontario Place site, create 'urban park' if re-elected: Wynne
The redeveloped site would include bike and walking trails, an urban park completed in time for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, ...
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Premier Announces Ontario Place Revitalization
The Premier explained the Liberals would create an waterfront community and urban park, complete with playing fields, parks and hiking trails.
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TRAIL
 PLANNING BEGINS JUNE 2, 2014

 Algonquin College On-Line Trails Education


ONTARIO TRAILS MOBILE one of 12 MUST HAVE APPS



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Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Ontario Trails News - news and activity information from all over Ontario's 2600 trails!


Dirt Bike

Equestrian

Heritage

Hiking


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Police officer caps off career with horseback ride from Toronto to Pickering
PICKERING -- Jim Patterson didn't want to end his 36-year career with the Toronto Police Service bywalking out the door one last time. “It would have ...
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Scott Ontario Cup series presented by Plastiglas | Ontario Cycling Association
In the cialis and vigrx face of a rough week of rain and cold, almost 500 people descended on Woodnewton for the first race in the Scott Ontario Cup ...
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Ottawa Sun
CHEO named top for inpatient satisfaction, two years in a row
The cycling and walking event is the hospital's biggest yearly fundraiser. Second ... CHEO was named the top hospital in Ontario for pediatric inpatient ...
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Dooring dangers: Cyclists, drivers need to be alert as peak cycle season arrives
In Toronto, for example, Toronto Police Services stopped recording dooring incidents in 2012; they're now lumped in with all cycling collisions.
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TRAIL
 PLANNING BEGINS JUNE 2, 2014

 Algonquin College On-Line Trails Education


ONTARIO TRAILS MOBILE one of 12 MUST HAVE APPS



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Sunday, February 16, 2014

Ontario Trail News - Trail News from around Ontario's Trails

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BlackburnNews.com

London snowmobiler found dead north of city
London Community News - Police are urging snowmobilers to stay on marked trailsafter a 50-year-old ... According to the Middlesex County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) ...
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Cycling crashes up to almost 200 Waterloo Region-wide | Your online newspaper for New ...
WATERLOO REGION – As the region and area municipalities shell out millions of dollars for cycling infrastructure, one measure of how well the ...
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Manitoulin Expositor

OFSC brings back no cost Try Our Trails Permit
ONTARIO— Last winter, almost 11,000 Ontarians tested OFSC snowmobile trailswith a no cost 'Try Our Trails Permit' affixed to their sleds.
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Yonge Street - Toronto

City's chief planner to talk about her favourite subject: the value ofwalking to school
Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto's chief planner, will be talking about her favourite subject, walking to school, at Walk Toronto's annual general meeting ...
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