Consolidation of the…

Consolidation of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) in Thunder Bay with 6 Conservation Authorities (CAs) on Lake Huron will only create inefficiencies in program delivery. It takes over 200 years for one drop of rainwater to travel from Lake Superior to Lake Huron; defining this entire region as one "watershed" lacks basic thought. The issues relevant to the Lakehead Watershed differ vastly from those along Lake Huron's coast. For example, water quality concerns mainly stem from industry in Thunder Bay, while in Owen Sound agriculture is far more prevalent. Northwestern Ontario is home to the majority of Ontario's remaining provincially significant wetland, requiring a delicate balance between development pressures and floodplain considerations. That said, the LRCA reviews permit applications within 5 days and is already committed to uninterrupted service delivery. The LRCA has strong local partnerships within the community and across member municipalities, and it is widely supported that LRCA should remain it's own Northwestern Region Conservation Authority.