Act

Proposal to amend the Niagara Parks Act to reduce red tape and regulatory burden by removing the requirement for municipal representatives on the Niagara Parks Commission Board to be appointed annually.

Regulation Number(s):
N/A
Instrument Type:
Act
Bill or Act:
Niagara Parks Act
Summary of Proposal:
MTCS is proposing amendments that would modernize the Niagara Parks Act by streamlining the board appointments process, reducing red tape and supporting business continuity.

The Niagara Parks Act requires that its Board of Directors include a member from each of the following municipal councils: the Regional Municipality of Niagara, Town of Fort Erie, City of Niagara Falls and Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Currently, these four municipal members are to be appointed annually by resolution of their respective municipal councils.

MTCS proposes to revise the requirement for municipal representatives on the NPC Board to be appointed annually. Instead, appointments would be active for a period determined by the municipal council appointing the representative, but for a term that does not exceed the full municipal council term.

The proposed change would align the Niagara Parks Act with other similar MTCS agency Acts. The Ottawa Convention Centre Corporation and the Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre Corporation also include municipal representatives appointed by their respective municipal councils to the agency boards. Neither the Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre Corporation Act nor the Ottawa Convention Centre Corporation Act has a legislative requirement for municipal representatives to be appointed annually.

The proposed change would not impact municipal representation on the NPC Board of Directors - only the term length that members selected by their councils are appointed.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
There are no financial impacts to the Government of Ontario associated with the proposal, and the proposal would not produce compliance costs to Ontarians or regulated entities. A Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) of this proposal is required because of the anticipated impact on the four municipalities with council appointees on NPC's Board of Directors:
• Regional Municipality of Niagara
• Town of Fort Erie
• City of Niagara Falls
• Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Based on information collected, draft RIA findings have indicated that this proposal would positively impact the above-noted municipalities by generating minor time and cost savings.

The average annual present value* cost to maintain the current requirement for annual appointment to the NPC Board by resolution of council is approximately $1,800 per year ($7,200 per council term) and $17,700 over a 10-year review period for all four impacted municipalities. If the proposal is implemented, the following approximate time and present value* cost savings would be realized across all four municipalities are estimated:
• 33 hours per year and 329 hours over the next 10 years.
• $1,300 per year and $13,300 over the next 10 years.

* Present value is the value of money discounted to reflect the time value of money and other factors that erode the value of money over time. It is used to compare cash flows at different times on a meaningful basis.
Further Information:
Proposal Number:
24-MTCS001
Posting Date:
April 10, 2024
Comments Due Date:
May 10, 2024
Contact Address:
11th Flr, 438 University Ave, Toronto, ON M7A 1N3