The proposal to consolidate…

The proposal to consolidate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into the following 7 regional conservation authorities may benefit individuals submitting permit applications but will likely have disastrous effects on communities. Decisions made by conglomerate bodies lacking local knowledge will result in environmental impacts such as flooding and erosion. Getting shovels in the ground faster by diluting local expertise and voices should not be the end goal. Major concerns include the loss of local decision-making, the lack of evidence that a merger would solve existing challenges and the potential for increased costs and top heavy bureaucracy. Rather than pushing through this proposal like the bulldozer the province is when it comes to development, please reconsider other more sustainable and gentle approaches to ensuring consistent policies and transparency while valuing local expertise and being thoughtful about climate control for future generations.