I support the following…

I support the following position of the LCRA for 3 reasons stated below:

the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) Board of Directors passed a resolution OPPOSING the Province’s proposed “Huron-Superior Regional Conservation Authority” boundary configuration as outlined in Environmental Registry Notice 025-1257, which proposes to consolidate the LRCA into a region 1,500 kilometres from the Lakehead Watershed with 72 other southern Ontario municipalities. The resolution also recommends that the LRCA form a stand alone independent Regional Conservation Authority, as the “Northwestern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority” to ensure that the interests of Northwestern Ontario are equitably represented. Additionally, the Board is also requesting that the Ministry engage directly with affected municipalities of the LRCA before finalizing any consolidation boundaries.

1) The LCRA receives the majority of its funding from local municipalities and only 5% from the province. Therefore the voice of these municipalities matter and would be lost in a large amalgamation.

2) The LCRA does not share a watershed with the proposed region of amalgamation ( 1000 pms away) and therefore has separate regional concerns to address and manage.

3) Northern voices matter and with the Ring of Fire being advanced it is more important that local conservation efforts be managed locally for quick informed response to local issues.