I am very concerned about…

I am very concerned about this proposal.
The current system of Conservation Authorities has been working well, based on local knowledge and interactions with local people who are directly affected by the work of the local Conservation Authorities. The concept of “local” is critical to success. I value actually knowing and personally interacting with people in my area who work for the Conservation Authority. I appreciate the chance to work cooperatively to make our local conservation areas the best they can be. This same energy is not going to work with a consolidation that includes land that is at a great distance from where we live.

In reading the government information, there is a strong suggestion that the goal is to basically remove red tape so that builders and landowners can more quickly proceed with work that may have hastily been approved without a full, in depth investigation to ensure that proposals do not harm the environment. A key sentence that conveys this idea to me, the goal is to “ better align Conservation Authorities’ services with provincial priorities on housing, the economy, infrastructure and climate resilience.”

Please outline how this proposal will prioritize “climate resilience”. A focus on the environment is not a strength of this government. As one example, the gutting of the Endangered Species Act is of grave concern.

It makes no sense to consolidate the Conservation Authorities into seven geographically large areas. Decisions are best made closest to the communities affected, by people with great knowledge of our local areas.