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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKen Higgs' Remarks at 50th Annual Meeting Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 50th Annual Meeting Comments February 24, 2006 Ken Higgs I am honoured to speak to you on the occasion of the 50th Annual Meeting. History is very important in understanding, where you have been, where you are at and where you are headed. The government of George Drew established the Department of Planning and Development in 1944. The role of the department was to plan for the projected post war growth of Ontario. In 1946, the Planning Act and the Conservation Authorities Act were passed and this was the beginning for these two programs in Ontario. The Conservation Authorities Act was based on three principles: • the watershed was the logical unit to prepare resource management plans • local people should initiate and implement programs • costs should be shared by the municipalities, the province, and for large water management projects, the Government of Canada. The Etobicoke River Conservation Authority, the first in the region was established on July 30th, 1946, followed by the Humber and Don in 1948, and the RDHP in 1954. These Authorities had begun a wide variety of resource management programs. Water Management • farm pond design and subsidies • construction of channel improvements • the regulation and acquisition of flood plain lands • the establishment of a rudimentary flood warning system • the Humber Valley Conservation Authority presented the first flood control brief to the province and the federal government Forestry • land acquisition for the Humber Forest • tree planting programs on private lands Land-Use • land-use planning surveys and preparation of farm plans • land judging competitions • established land-use demonstrations Fish and Wildlife • junior trout fishing days • published a book on shrubs suitable for attracting wildlife Recreation • began the program to acquire conservation areas and to develop them for conservation and recreation History • established Black Creek Pioneer Village • marked historic sites in the watersheds Conservation Education • conservation lectures • school tours • publications • conservation camp school • conservation essay and poster competitions • Pioneer Week was held at the Dalziel Barn in 1956 MTRCA MTRCA was established on February 1 s`, 1957. There were two reasons for its establishment: • the long history of flooding in the Toronto region, including disastrous flooding of Brampton in 1948 and Hurricane Hazel in October 1954, that resulted in the loss of 81 lives and $25,000,000 in damage. • the establishment of Metropolitan Toronto in 1953. It was agreed by the province and the authorities that a regional approach to resource management would be more effective, and Metropolitan Toronto had the financial resources to fund such a program. The first year was very exciting. The Authority had to elect an Executive, establish advisory boards, hire staff and establish a headquarters. The new Authority maintained and expanded the programs of the four former Authorities. A major emphasis was placed on the expansion of the acquisition and development of conservation areas, enlarging existing areas and new acquisitions in the east on the Duffins Creek. Programs to expand the acquisition of flood plain lands were also developed. The major initiative in the early years was the Plan for Flood Control and Water Conservation which was adopted by the Authority on September 2, 1959. The Plan was a totally integrated approach to watershed management and had five elements: • construction of channel improvements in built up areas • acquisition and regulation of flood plain lands • construction of dams and reservoirs to regulate flows • a flood warning system • an ancillary program of watershed management in forestry, fish and wildlife, land-use, recreation and conservation education. An agreement was signed by the Authority, the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada in June 1961 to implement the Plan. The following years were devoted to the implementation of the Plan. Time does not permit me to detail all the achievements during my time with the Authority. I would however like to leave you with some thoughts. Planning • planning has always been one of the strengths of the authorities • the Conservation Reports prepared by the Department of Planning and Development • the Report of the Toronto and Suburban Planning Board in 1946 proposed an outer green belt and inner green belt consisting of the river valleys • the Plan for Flood Control and Water Conservation • and all the plans that followed. Foresight Conservation Authorities in Ontario were the first to acquire lands on the Niagara Escarpment and the Oak Ridges Moraine, long before provincial initiatives. Agreements - the ability of Authorities to enter into agreements to further its objectives. • the Plan for Flood Control and Water Conservation • the agreement that MTRCA negotiated with Metropolitan Toronto for the development for recreation of flood plain lands acquired by the Authority. Black Creek Pioneer Village • designated the village as the Authorities Centennial Project Foundation • the establishment of the Foundation in 1961 and its first project, the Albion Hills Outdoor Education Centre Regrets The acquisition of more land. I challenge you to set this as one of your top priorities to serve the needs of the burgeoning population in the Toronto region. Finally, I would like to dedicate these remarks to all the politicians, citizens and staff who have contributed to the work of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and its predecessors. The prophet Joel said: Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. I have dreams of what might have been done; the vision for the future is in your hands.