Premier Doug Ford has created a new position of Chief Conservation Executive and has appointed Hassaan Basit of Hamilton to the position.
Basit will be in charge of ensuring that Ford’s dictates last year are implemented, including limiting conservation authority activities to their core missions. He also wants some conservation authority plans changed to speed housing construction.
That put a number of programs into doubt, such as subsidies to farmers to reduce erosion and protect drinking water.
The new post and appointment were announced before just as the extended holiday weekend was about to begin.
The news release said the move will “enhance the effectiveness of the province’s conservation authorities, which will create consistency, reduce costs and drive faster outcomes for the communities they serve.”
“These changes will support the government’s commitment to protect Ontario’s economy by speeding up critical infrastructure and housing development, while safeguarding the environment.”
Hassaan Basit is currently chief administrative officer for the City of Burlington.
He said in the news release that two decades working in conservation has taught him effective flood protection involves both safeguarding the environment, and enabling “prosperous, sustainable communities.”
