2/23

Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 6:30 P.m. - 8:30 P.m.

The meeting will be conducted via a video conference

Members of the public may view the livestream at the following link:

https://video.isilive.ca/trca/live.html

PRESENT:

• Itala Abreu
• Sue Arndt
• Sue Bartleman
• Christina Cicconetti
• Jane Darragh
• Chris Fonseca
• Marlaine Koehler
• David Laing
• Justin Leung
• Scott Lister
• Kayla Hayden
• John MacKenzie
• Lisa MacTavish
• Amber Morley
• Markelle Morphet
• Jennifer Ogrodnick
• Dhara Parsania
• Lucia Piccinni
• Anna-Louise Richardson
• Vamika Sharma
• Gord Shreeve
• Leah Taylor Roy
• Natalija Vojno
• Peter Welsh

ABSENT:

• David Pickles
• Gurpartap Singh Toor
• Michael White
• Charmaine Williams

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Regional Watershed Alliance Meeting #2/23 was held via video conference, on Wednesday May 31, 2023, pursuant to section C.12 of the TRCA’s Board of Directors Administrative By-Law. The Acting Chair, Joanne Hyde, called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.

2.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

2.1

APPOINTMENT OF SCRUTINEERS

Joanne Hyde, Clerk and Manager, Policy assumed the role of Acting Chair for the purpose of election of officers, in accordance with the TRCA Board of Directors Administrative By-Law.

• RES #R 8/23
  Moved By: Amber Morley
  Seconded By: David Laing

  THAT Ms. Manpreet Banga, Deputy Clerk and Analyst, Policy, TRCA, Ms. Joanne Hyde, Clerk and Manager, Policy, and Ms. Victoria Kramkowski, Government and Community Relations Specialist, Peel and York Watersheds, Government and Community Relations, be appointed as scrutineers for the election of officers of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority's Regional Watershed Alliance.

  
  
  
  Carried

2.2

CHAIR OF THE REGIONAL WATERSHED ALLIANCE

The Acting Chair called for nominations for Chair of the Regional Watershed Alliance.

Natalija Vojno nominated Anna-Louise Richardson for Chair. Anna-Louise Richardson indicated that she would stand for the position of Chair.

Anna-Louise Richardson was appointed as Chair of the Regional Watershed Alliance.

• RES #R 9/23
  Moved By: Jennifer Ogrodnick
  Seconded By: Amber Morley

  THAT nominations for the Office of Chair of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Regional Watershed Alliance be closed.

  
  
  
  Carried

2.3

VICE-CHAIR OF THE REGIONAL WATERSHED ALLIANCE

The Acting Chair called for nominations for Vice Chair of the Regional Watershed Alliance.

David Laing nominated Justin Leung for Vice Chair. Justin Leung indicated that he would stand for the position of Vice Chair.

Anna-Louise Richardson nominated Natalija Vojno for Vice Chair. Natalija Vojno indicated she would stand for the position of Vice Chair.

Each nominee had 3 minutes to speak to their interest in running for Vice Chair of Regional Watershed Alliance and were delivered in the order they were nominated.

The vote results in 11-8 in favour of Justin Leung.

Justin Leung was appointed as Vice Chair of the Regional Watershed Alliance.

Anna-Louise Richardson assumed the role of Chair.

• RES #R 10/23
  Moved By: Lisa MacTavish
  Seconded By: Jennifer Ogrodnick

  THAT nominations for the Office of Vice Chair of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Regional Watershed Alliance be closed.

  
  
  
  Carried

3.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INDIGENOUS TERRITORY

The Chair recited the Acknowledgement of Indigenous Territory.

4.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF

None.

5.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING #1/23, HELD ON MARCH 22, 2023

• RES #R 11/23
  Moved By: Kayla Hayden
  Seconded By: Justin Leung

  THAT the Minutes of Meeting #1/23, held on March 22, 2023, be approved.

  
  
  
  Carried

6.

PRESENTATIONS

6.1

TRCA'S WATERSHED PLANNING PROCESS AND THE WATERSHED PLAN

• RES #R 12/23
  Moved By: Gord Shreeve
  Seconded By: Marlaine Koehler

  THAT TRCA's Watershed Planning Process and Watershed Plan presentation, be received.

  
  
  
  Carried

6.2

INTRODUCTION AND UPDATE ON PROFESSIONAL ACCESS INTO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (PAIE)

• RES #R 13/23
  Moved By: Leah Taylor Roy
  Seconded By: Natalija Vojno

  THAT the Introduction and Update on Professional Access into Employment Program (PAIE) presentation, be received.

  
  
  
  Carried

6.3

TERRESTRIAL INVENTORY AND MONITORING PROGRAM AT TRCA

• RES #R 14/23
  Moved By: Amber Morley
  Seconded By: Kayla Hayden

  THAT the Terrestrial Inventory and Monitoring Program at TRCA presentation, be received.

  
  
  
  Carried

7.

CORRESPONDENCE

None.

8.

ITEMS FOR ALLIANCE ACTION

None.

8.1

TRCA'S WATERSHED PLANNING PROCESS AND THE WATERSHED PLAN

• RES #R 15/23
  Moved By: Amber Morley
  Seconded By: Chris Fonseca

  WHEREAS TRCA is a watershed-based organization involved in integrated watershed planning and management to help achieve healthy and resilient watersheds, community well-being, and safety over the long term;

  AND WHEREAS watershed planning provides a framework to assess the current and potential future conditions of the watershed and identifies measures to protect, restore and enhance watershed health;

  AND WHEREAS provincial policies in some cases require and encourage municipalities to complete watershed plans, in partnership with conservation authorities;

  AND WHEREAS TRCA and its partner municipalities are working on advancing the Humber River Watershed Plan (HRWP), completing the Etobicoke Creek Watershed Plan (ECWP), and implementing the Carruthers Creek Watershed Plan (CCWP) and other previously completed watershed and subwatershed plans;

  AND WHEREAS TRCA will be undertaking the final stages of public, stakeholder, and First Nations and Indigenous community engagement this Fall to receive feedback and to support finalizing the draft ECWP;

  IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT Regional Watershed Alliance (RWA) provide input on the planned engagement sessions be received and incorporated into the final engagement strategy for the ECWP;

  AND FURTHER THAT RWA members be encouraged to communicate opportunities for engagement on the ECWP and on watershed plan implementation including restoration, education and other community projects through their networks.

  
  
  
  Carried

8.2

INTRODUCTION AND UPDATE ON PROFESSIONAL ACCESS INTO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (PAIE)

• RES #R 16/23
  Moved By: Leah Taylor Roy
  Seconded By: David Laing

  WHEREAS the PAIE Program is recruiting newcomer environmental professional program participants for the 2023/24 cohorts;

  WHEREAS members of the Regional Watershed Alliance are part of organizations and networks that may offer mentorship opportunities to PAIE program participants;

  IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT a presentation by PAIE staff about the program, and recruitment and intake timelines for remaining 2023/24 cohorts be received;

  AND THAT RWA members be asked to circulate information about the PAIE Program to their networks and to relevant staff in their respective organizations;

  AND FURTHER THAT RWA members consider whether their organizations can offer mentorship opportunities as part of the PAIE Program.

  
  
  
  Carried

9.

ITEMS FOR ALLIANCE INFORMATION

9.1

TERRESTRIAL INVENTORY AND MONITORING PROGRAM AT TRCA

• RES #R 17/23
  Moved By: Gord Shreeve
  Seconded By: Jane Darragh

  WHEREAS Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), in partnership and collaboration with TRCA’s partner municipalities, continues to conduct field inventories and long-term environmental monitoring tracking the health of its watersheds through the Regional Watershed Monitoring Program;

  AND WHEREAS the inventory and monitoring science-based data supports many internal and external initiatives, including mandatory programs and services;

  IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT the staff report and presentation on the Terrestrial Inventories and Monitoring be received.

  
  
  
  Carried

10.

NEW BUSINESS AND GOOD NEWS STORIES

Victoria Kramkowski, Senior Manager, Government & Community Relations, advised that Bike the Creek will be held on June 10, 2023, and encouraged members to attend.

David Laing provided additional information on Bike the Creek, which is currently in it's ninth year and expected to reach 1200 participants this year. The event is a collaborative effort between City of Brampton, City of Mississauga, Town of Caledon, Region of Peel and TRCA. The trails are a combination of riding on pathways and streets and are designed to showcase cultural heritage of the area, historical elements, new bicycle infrastructures, and national heritage between the three municipalities.

Chair Richardson announced that the Humber River Citizens Alliance is partnering with the City of Toronto Forestry department to plant trees in Raymore Park, along with an Indigenous ceremony and water blessing on June 10.

Joanne Hyde, Clerk and Manager, Policy advised that an email will be distributed to have members acknowledge that they have read and understood the code of conduct and Administrative By-Law. Joanne also mentioned that alternates are not permitted to attend meetings on behalf of a member as they do not have the voting rights as an appointed member would. If a member of an organization is interested in the meeting, they can view the live stream available on the TRCA website. A demonstration of eSCRIBE was provided, including a review of notifications and meeting invitations, how to login and how to access meeting materials.

11.

ADJOURNMENT

ON MOTION from Amber Morley, the meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m.