Power of Water Canada 2019 brought some welcome autumnal cheer to delegates at the annual conference and tradeshow organized on 21-23 October by the Ontario Waterpower Association in Niagara, in the eastern Canadian province of Ontario. Unsettled by the uncertainty facing the province's power sector as a result of an ongoing market reform, the conference's opening keynote speaker, the Honourable Jeff Yurek, Ontario's Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, brought some good news, conveying the Government's sustained efforts to expedite regulatory processes for the hydropower and dam industry by reducing red tape. Minister Yurek highlighted the direct correlation between red tape reduction and increasing Ontario's energy and economic competitiveness. In his remarks, Minister Yurek specifically recognized the long-standing issues and inefficiencies resulting from the unnecessary application of the Ontario Water Resources Act to waterpower facilities. The Minister also spoke about the Ministry's efforts to continue to move forward on the implementation of overall improvements to the Environmental Assessment regime, including streamlining permitting for hydropower projects where infrastructure already exists. "We are developing sensible, practical solutions to modernize Ontario's environmental assessment processes to serve the people of Ontario better now and into the future," said Minister Yurek. "We are working with the Ontario Waterpower Association to reduce delays on projects that matter most to Ontario communities and businesses by ensuring that the Class environmental assessment process is as efficient as possible while ensuring strong environmental protection."
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