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The board of the Essex Region Conservation Authority will discuss potential disciplinary action later this month against CAO Tim Byrne, who had some choice words for Ontario’s minister of natural resources over new regulations affecting watershed protections.
ERCA chair Jim Morrison said the board of directors will discuss the controversy during an in-camera meeting on March 28. But he added that if there is any action taken against Byrne, who was quoted in a story by The Narwhal directing a “f— you” to Minister Graydon Smith, it likely won’t be a dismissal.
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“Certainly we will have that discussion,” said Morrison, also Windsor’s Ward 10 city councillor. “I respect Tim Byrne very much. He’s an excellent CAO for our conservation authority.
“He’s done a lot over a lot of years. So for saying two words, I don’t feel that is something where we should jump the gun and make a big decision.”
Byrne did not respond to the Star’s requests for comment. He was quoted March 7 in a story about new provincial regulations related to conservation authorities.
The regulations take some conservation authority powers away, but they also broaden some others. The minister of natural resources now has the ability to issue development permits without approval from conservation authorities, and he can alter conditions the agencies want to impose on developments.
“The minister better staff up if he wants to tell us what to do,” Byrne told The Narwhal. “And as for overruling us or appealing our decisions, well f— you, minister. Based on what?”
After it was published, The Narwhal updated the online story with a statement Byrne sent the publication to “sincerely apologize” for the comments. Byrne has also sent Smith a direct letter of apology.
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Despite that, Windsor Ward 4 Coun. Mark McKenzie, an ERCA board member, is calling for Byrne’s resignation.
Morrison disagrees.
“That was a total surprise to me,” said Morrison. “I wasn’t sure that Mr. McKenzie should have been making the statements that he did with very limited knowledge.”
“He made statements about irreparable damage that’s being done. I felt like there was certainly not a lot of information for him to be making those statements.”
Morrison said he has been in contact with provincial officials since the controversy erupted.
“This is not necessarily something that would put us in a position where they wouldn’t support us,” said Morrison. “ERCA is one of the conservation authorities that is well-respected.
“And I do know that the minister does want to meet with Mr. Byrne. But there certainly is not an indication that there is any irreparable damage done.”
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If the ERCA board does take any action, Morrison said it will not happen before the in-camera discussion at the end of March.
“Tim knows he made a mistake,” said Morrison. “He issued a letter of apology right away to the minister, to all members of the board and the staff. He’s very sincere about it.
“We’re not talking about somebody who’s only been around for a while. He’s been around for 38 years protecting our wetlands.
“I do take this seriously, but I’m certainly not saying there is a reason for an immediate dismissal or anything along those lines.”
McKenzie did not respond to a request for comment from the Windsor Star before print deadline.
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