WHY NOT AN ABSOLUTE MONARCHY? Governance Along the Trent-Severn Waterway including the Kawartha Lakes

Transcription

1 WHY NOT AN ABSOLUTE MONARCHY? Governance Along the Trent-Severn Waterway including the Kawartha Lakes Presentation to the State of the Kawarthas Conference October 2008

2 Mandate of the Panel Motion in Parliament passed unanimously in October 2006 Panel named in May 2007 Mandate Suggest mechanisms to: Protect natural and cultural resources Contribute to growing outdoor recreational demand and sustainable economy Improve water management Improve governance and interjurisdictional coordination and cooperation Provide for sustainable funding

3 Processes of the Panel Three Background Studies Water management, sustainable economy, other waterway models Seven Discussion Papers Natural Environment, Cultural Resources, Recreation, Sustainable Community Economic Development, Improving Governance, Jurisdiction, Water Management Public Engagement 30 public sessions in 16 communities 225 Formal submissions More than 1100 citizens participated

4 Reviewing the Current Governance Situation 1971 Study 22 different federal and provincial agencies administering 69 pieces of relevant legislation Now even more complex Feds, Province, several levels of municipalities, First Nations Hundreds of citizens organizations At least ten different agencies regulate in-water work with different policies One agency manages storage and flows of water while another issues permits to take water And they don t talk to each other Two different agencies regulate hydro development / dozens part of approval process Etc.

5 The Public View of Governance Carp as canaries Initial response to dead carp Not my job; somebody else should pay; call somebody else; I don t know The public perspective on government performance Not accountable Unclear responsibilities Avoidance and passing the buck culture Governments don t talk to citizens or provide mechanisms to permit citizens to talk to them Governments don t talk to each other

6 Why Do We Need to Improve Governance? Rational allocation and use of water Competition for quantity with demand growing Competition for access with demand growing Better Decisions Longer term Better and more broadly disseminated knowledge Common goals Improved return on public expenditure Better engagement of citizen sense of ownership

7 Governance involves the interactions among structures, processes and traditions that determine how power is exercised, how decisions are taken, and how citizens and other stakeholders have their say. Plumptre and Graham

8 Options for Governance Multiple agencies with separate responsibilities Voluntary Coordinating Bodies National Heritage Corridors, Greenways Formal Coordinating Mechanisms Service Centres, Regulatory protocols Special Purpose Agencies with Oversight National Waterway Board, Niagara Escarpment Commission, Adirondack State Park Agency, California Coastal Commission Specials Purpose Agencies with Oversight and Ownership Niagara Parks Agency, National Capital Commission

9 The Panel s Governance Principles Agencies should do what they are mandated to do, what they are good at and should have the necessary tools With clear accountabilities Governance should be simple, understandable and transparent Governance should emphasize two way communications and citizen engagement Government agencies should demonstrate the qualities of teamwork and collaboration

10 Our Governance Recommendations Strengthen existing institutions rather than create new ones A Heritage Region A sense of common identity and common goals Water and watershed based Ecological, cultural, social and economic dimensions A Heritage Region Council A framework for coordination, communication and collaboration

11 Responsibilities of the Heritage Region Council Understand and communicate roles and responsibilities Promote governance simplification Set sustainability goals and priorities House a regional Sustainability Charter`` Monitor and report on charter implementation Facilitate communication House performance data Provide advice and technical assistance to local organizations

12 Progress Toward Implementation Bi-partisan committee of MP`s and MPP`s Parks Canada considering recommendation