OACA is a not-for-profit volunteer Association run by a nine-member elected Board of Directors. Members include Secretary-Treasurers of Committees of Adjustment and Land Division Committees, appointed members on these committees, and other individuals involved with consents and minor variance applications. Committee members can be local residents, Council members, or a combination of both, and are responsible for fairly adjudicating applications for relief from municipal Zoning By-laws or various types of consents under the Planning Act.
Secretary-Treasurers are typically municipal staff. Having both staff and Committee members in one organization makes OACA a unique and dynamic organization that responds to a variety of interests. Our mandate is to provide professional development opportunities to support the administration and adjudication processes of Committees of Adjustment and Consent Authorities located in Ontario.
We hold an annual conference with our Annual General Meeting at different locations across Ontario, usually in the spring. These conferences feature practical workshops on topics of interest to our members. They provide a great opportunity to exchange ideas, network, and help promote a consistent approach to interpreting and implementing legislation affecting Committees of Adjustment and Land Division Committees.
OACA also offers the Primer on Planning correspondence course twice a year, delivered through a partnership with the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO). Completing this course is one of criteria for becoming an Accredited Committee Secretary-Treasurer (ACST). OACA also offers the Committee Member Video Training Series to assist Secretary-Treasurers with training Committee members.
If you are interested in joining OACA, we offer affordable memberships. A strong, diverse, and educated membership with hands-on experience with the Planning Act helps provide consistent service for Committees of Adjustment and Land Division Committees across Ontario.