To whom it may concern, I…

To whom it may concern,

I have many concerns about is proposal to change the structure of Conservation Authorities. My biggest concerns being:

1. The merging of 36 CA's to just 7 will greatly reduce local involvement and decision making.

2. Conservation Authorities were build around watershed, not politics. The topography and ecology of each river differ greatly. The current authorities have first hand knowledge of these ecosystems.

3. The substantial transition costs will take funds away from front line service and delivery.

4. Species at Risk diversity and threats are not equal across Ontario and require local level action, resources and funding to halt range and abundance declines. Securing funding for regions of this scale to conduct this work will become near impossible.   

5. These authorities are responsible for providing emergencies messaging about potential flooding. This proposed change will reduce conservation authorities abilities to provide this information in certain communities, this put people lives in danger.

6. Permitting for development actually will slow down because local experts will be replaced by distant regional offices that don't know or understand the landscape.

We should be working to great strengthen our current authorities. These Authorities exist to protect local ecosystems and greater public interest.