We live close to a number of…

We live close to a number of Hamilton conservation areas. This reminds me of the decade old vote to join Hamilton in Waterdown, Dundas and other independent areas. The promis was similar. Reduced taxes, improved efficiency in management. Improved services. The reality has been very different. The services became inconsistent poorer and the Amalgamation destroyed value at every step of the process, taxes to pay for the Red Hill and other infrastructure projects in the city core were the focus Not our independent suburbs and towns. Now a new tax grab is going to tax the rain in our area under dubious assumptions of run off. Again in the guise of infrastructure improvements. The city does not repair our wells and aquafirs. We get nothing from the city in our areas and avoid the core like the plague. As retires on fixed incomes this is just terrible. Total BS can’t wait for the next election.

The new plan to amalgamate the HCA into a larger regional system will be identical, fragmented, costly and dangerous for the environment around us. It works well now with the local focus. A diluted focus will again destroy value over the next decade. If all these changes emerge we will sell and depart this area for more friendly ecosystems in other jurisdictions. I can only hope that the MO’s and other government officials have seen history repeat itself and elect to keep regional agendas and focus on people that live in the area. Other wise election time may prove the only way to identify the candidates that support a focused approach to our conservation authorities.