The proposed changes to the…

The proposed changes to the mandate of Ontario's conservation authorities should not take place.

The conservation authorities have the best on-the-ground knowledge of their areas, the environmental sensitivities, and the flood risks. They need to remain involved in making decisions about development in the same manner as they currently are. Risk to homeowners increases without the involvement of conservation authorities - recall what happened due to Hurricane Hazel. Do we need more people to die in floods? No. With climate change, many areas are at risk of increased flash flooding due to intensified precipitation events, as well as changes to the timing of peak flows seasonally. Conservation authorities are tracking these hydrological changes and understand flood risks far better than land developers. They need to have the authority to limit residential developments where it is not safe to build.

Ontario doesn't need access to more land to build houses in ecologically sensitive areas that should remain protected for the sake of water quality, biological diversity, and ecological integrity (as connectivity corridors). Instead, Ontario needs to densify development in areas that are already disturbed.

Removing the ability of conservation authorities to operate as they currently do is a backwards step for Ontario's environment and water quality, but also for its residents.