Bill 86 2016

An Act to amend the Conservation Authorities Act

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

   1.  Section 14 of the Conservation Authorities Act is amended by adding the following subsections:

Same

   (3.1)  At least half of the members of an authority shall have significant training, experience or employment history in an environmental or natural resource field.

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Termination of existing appointments

   (4.1)  Despite subsection (1), within six months after the appointment requirement in subsection (3.1) comes into force, the respective councils of the participating municipalities shall terminate all existing appointments and make new appointments in accordance with this section.

Eligibility for reappointment

   (4.2)  A member whose appointment is terminated in accordance with subsection (4.1) is eligible for reappointment to fill the vacancy created by the termination if they meet the qualifications in this section.

Deemed to be continuously appointed

   (4.3)  For the purpose of the term limit in subsection (4), a member whose appointment is terminated in accordance with subsection (4.1) and who is reappointed to fill the vacancy created by the termination is deemed to have been continuously appointed from the time the terminated appointment began, minus the time between the termination and reappointment.

Commencement

   2.  This Act comes into force six months after the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

   3.  The short title of this Act is the Conservation Authorities Amendment Act, 2016.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Conservation Authorities Act to require that at least half the members of a conservation authority have significant training, experience or employment history in an environmental or natural resource field. The Bill also requires that all existing appointments be terminated and allows those members whose appointments are terminated in this manner to be reappointed if they meet the new qualifications.