One of the casualties under the Ford government’s drive to eliminate Ontario’s multi-billion dollar deficit is the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority.
The agency is losing almost half its funding in the natural hazard transfer program.
The government is removing $125,000 from the $258,529 requested in the NBMCA’s budget.
As a result, the Conservation Authority says it has to defer some programs and cancel other initiatives because of the shortfall.
One fallout from the reduction is the NBMCA has to put a flood risk assessment study on hold.
It also has to defer replacing infrastructure in conservation areas.
In an effort to maintain some of the essential natural hazard services, the NBMCA is offsetting part of the reduction by taking money from its other programs.
Brian Taylor, who is the NBMCA’s CAO says the agency’s flood forecasting and flood control initiatives are important to the people of the watershed.
“This spring’s flooding is the perfect example of why these programs are essential,” Taylor said.
Responding to the cuts made by his government, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said the reduction represents one line in the NBMCA’s total budget which he adds is many pages in length.
“We looked at one line where we asked for efficiencies to be found,” he said.
“When I see headlines that the Conservation Authority budget is slashed, it’s (actually) somewhere between one or two percent.”
The Tory MPP said this amounts to about one to two cents on the dollar.
Fedeli says in comparison the government has been able to find savings on almost eight cents on every dollar.
“So we expect the agencies, boards and commissions to look for these efficiencies and savings as well,” he said.
