Re: ERO #025-1257 I am…

Re: ERO #025-1257
I am writing as an Ontario resident who lives rurally north of Kingston. I live within the boundary of the Cataraqui Creek Conservation Authority and I have great concerns about and am completely opposed to the plan to amalgamate our 36 Conservation Authories into 7 massize, cumbersome and out of touch regional Conservation Authorities. How many more ways can this shortsighted provincial government chip away at the organizations, policies, acts and laws that protect our environment all in the name of "development"?

Conservation Authorities (CAs) are a valued local presence that provide key stewardship, parks, trails and educational activities, in addition to flood management and regulatory functions, so essential to keeping our area safe.
A regional CA model will diminish the CA partnerships and local presence on the ground.

CA's are funded locally by cities, towns and municipalities and NOT by the provincial government.
Cities & townships will lose the governance of their own money, despite the fact that they fund the CAs.

Personally, I have seen the numerous benefits of local Conservation Authorities from programs in which my children participated when they were young to the incredible resources and advice our local CA provides to our lake association and the local community.

We relied on our CA heavily during the drought this past summer.

This is NOT the time to be weakening the management, protection and oversight of such valuable and vital systems as our watersheds. We need the CA's more than ever as water taking rules get murkier and looser (thanks to this government).

I am so disheartened by this government's singular and shortsighted focus on development at the expense of species at risk. effective watershed oversight, the green belt, conservation land and many important natural things that are essential.

Leave the Conservation Authorities as they are and let them continue to do their good work. Save the money and upheaval that amalgamation would cause or better still, use this money to invest healthy food programs, public transit or health care; things that the people of Ontario actually need.