As the Board of Directors…

As the Board of Directors for the Southcott Pines Park Association, representing 585 households in Lambton Shores, we are in agreement with the Resolution passed by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority’s Board of Directors and its concerns about the proposed “Huron-Superior Regional Conservation Authority.”

We share ABCA’s concerns about the lack of details pertaining to governance, structure, local input, representation and budgeting for the proposed Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency.

Like ABCA, we recognize the value in the Province’s goals of improved efficiencies, consistent policies and resources; however, we are very concerned about the impact on local accountability and loss of responsiveness to the unique environmental landscapes across Ontario, including the specific requirements for the preservation of Oak Savanna and the Old Ausable Channel, rare ecosystems located where we live in Southcott Pines.

Over the years, SPPA’s Environmental Stewardship Committee has worked very closely with the ABCA and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Department of Fisheries on multiple projects to preserve the Old Ausable Channel, including: aeration units, floating gardens, buffer zone bank vegetation, a major bank restoration, the reduction of an infestation of invasive plant species and repairs to a blocked culvert. These efforts not only improve water quality, they prevent flooding and protect riverbanks and aquatic life, including endangered fish species. All of these projects required grant money from the community, municipality and province. We relied on the ABCA to help prepare applications and work as our charitable donation partner. Without their assistance and expertise we would not be able to fund projects on the Old Ausable Channel, which is in desperate need of major restoration and maintenance.

The proposal to merge six conservation authorities into the Huron-Superior Conservation Authority spans over 1500 kilometers along the northern shores of Lake Superior and Lake Huron with 80 municipalities. How will the proposed Huron-Superior Regional Conservation Authority respond effectively to the critical needs of municipalities, neighbourhoods and their residents?

We believe that one of the many strengths of the current conservation authority system is local watershed-based organizations doing important work informed by local needs, often hand in hand with community groups. The combination of public agencies linked with local municipalities and citizen-led groups builds public support and surely has more impact than any province-wide bureaucracy alone. Can these relationships be maintained as conservation authorities are consolidated? Probably not.

In closing, we urge you to conduct a fulsome consultation with the conservation authorities and municipalities before you proceed with consolidation.

Board of Directors, Southcott Pines Park Association
Randy Leavitt, Susan Edgar, Terry Gillis, Steven Kraemer, Allison Angold-Stephens, Patty Clynick, Elaine Graham, Nicole Wechsel, Ruth Aho, Gary Jennison, John McCrea