Comments from Conservation…

Comments from Conservation Ontario (June 2021) need to be incorporated in the proposed regulations.

- Recreation needs to be a mandatory activity. It is outrageous that the province wants to reduce accessibility to recreation and greenspace - especially the areas that are free to access. This is a key indicator of health and well-being for the people of Ontario. Conservation authorities are specifically identified as providers of greenspace and recreation providers in many provincial acts: Niagara Escarpment Plan - even the Growth Plan which was updated less than a year ago specifically identifies trails owned and managed conservation authorities. Removing recreation as a mandatory activity will reduce the quality of life for Ontario residents.

Nature-based and stewardship solutions with private landowners are also necessary. This is critical when we think of managing natural space in Ontario - what happens upstream impacts what happens downstream. And there are a lot of very rich private landowners. This is especially true when we consider the risk of flooding and erosion hazards.

I ask that you think of the long term implications for all of Ontario residents.