By NICK GARDINER
Staff Writer

BERWICK -- The Ontario Landowners Association (OLA) and South Nation Conservation (SNC) are hailing a groundbreaking agreement that acknowledges the property rights of private homeowners living along the eastern Ontario watershed.

Authorities with the SNC announced the agreement, which they call precedent setting, in a news release that identifies seven points agreed on by the two parties.

That includes a pledge by the SNC to show respect to landowners by contacting them to request access to property as required. If permission is not granted, conservation staff will leave the property unless an emergency exists and a warrant is obtained.

Further, the SNC and OLA are making a joint recommendation calling on the province to hold publicly funded hearings on Bill 43, the Clean Water Act, which has passed two readings in the Ontario legislature and is subject to further committee meetings late next month.

Ontario Landowners' president Randy Hillier said the agreement is the result of a two-hour meeting in early June between eight members of his organization and about 10 representatives from the conservation authority.

Subsequent discussions were held to refine the language of the agreement, said Hillier.

"There are a number of significant developments. Number one is the statement that the bureaucracy will respect private property ownership," he said.

Additionally, the recommendation for "full, fair and timely compensation" in the event a landowner loses the ability to make a living from their property as a result of conservation measures is a major point the OLA has been fighting for, said Hillier.

"These words may not sound significant but when somebody finally recognizes you as a property owner have inalienable rights and they shall not (impose on them) even though they have the power to, it's (recognition) of an argument that's been a hallmark since the landowners were founded."

For its part, the OLA supports the clean water objectives and agrees the SNC's experience and locally appointed board of directors make it the best suited agency to apply provincial goals to a watershed that stretches from Brockville to Hawkesbury.

Hillier said the landowners are preparing a statement of their own about the agreement.

He said the organization will attempt to establish similar understandings with other conservation authorities and municipalities which have the responsibility to implement the Clean Water Act.

Moreover, the OLA will continue to press for other changes to the Act, he said.

"There are things that are still totally wrong with Bill 43 in our opinion."

Getting full public debate remains a challenge considering a travelling committee in August will meet in Cornwall, Walkerton, Bath and Toronto.

"You need to make a submission to the committee just to get standing to make a presentation. To most people, this is too onerous," he said, citing travel schedules and arranging time off work as some of the problems that have to be overcome.

While the agreement is being heralded as a trendsetter by both sides, Hillier said the OLA has been instrumental in working with other agencies to get better deals for landowners.

For instance, the landowners worked with the Ministry of Natural Resources to allow a hunting exemption for farmers to kill deer eating their crops. As well, meetings have been held with district health units that resulted in modification of proposed legislation governing farmers markets and church suppers, he said.

"What we have done with South Nation, we have done on a number of other occasions, too. This is just the first time it's been documented."

In a statement released with the agreement, SNC general manager Dennis O'Grady said the deal shows a mutual desire by both organizations to accomplish what's best for the environment while respecting landowners' rights.

• Published in Section A, page 3 in the Tuesday, July 4, 2006 edition of the Brockville Recorder & Times.