mail-in etc). We would ask those tracking additional costs incurred as a result of this change, to please share this information with us so that we can analyze and continue to monitor the impact of this measure.

Ontario Fall 2020 Budget

The Budget was built around three themes: protect, support and recover, and provides a three-year outlook with a few scenarios of what Ontario’s fiscal situation could look like.

Ontario is projecting a $38.5 billion deficit for 2020-2021, as a result of COVID-19. Depending on the pace of economic growth, the deficit could shrink over the next three years, however, the Province could be projecting a significant deficit (approximately $28.2 - $33.4 billion depending on the economic scenario) going into the 2022 provincial election year.

We have about several measures announced as part of the Fall 2020 Budget.

The Minister also introduced Bill 229: Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures), 2020, containing 44 Schedules that would make amendments to several Acts. Some of the more significant proposals are outlined below: 

The Bill would amend the Conservation Authorities Act to add further accountability and transparency measures including:

• A section that requires persons appointed to conservation authorities to be municipal councillors.

• A section on duties of members to act honestly and in good faith on behalf of municipalities where members are appointed by participating municipalities.

• A section that requires agendas and meeting minutes of the authority and executive committees to be made public and posted to the authority's website.

In addition, the Bill would allow the Minister to appoint a representative from the agricultural sector. Conservation Authorities would continue to be responsible for providing programs and services to further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources other than gas, oil, coal and minerals.