I live in Carleton Place…

I live in Carleton Place which is under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA). I have lived in Lanark County for 35 years and have found that the MVCA has done an excellent job throughout this time. I would urge the Government of Ontario to reconsider its plan to amalgamate the Conservation Authorities (CA) in the province.

One of the greatest strengths of the MVCA is its ability to understand our local situation and respond quickly to local concerns. The larger any organization is, the less likely it is to understand and reflect local concerns. Will anyone in Cornwall be concerned about flooding along the upper Mississippi when in fact they're not even in the same watershed? Will people in Ottawa listen to farmers' concerns about droughts? How many people will even be able present their concerns to the Board when they likely can't find the time nor the money to drive long distances to express these concerns?

One argument for change is to save money for taxpayers. However, since the municipalities in our area that fund over two thirds of the cost of the MVCA, it should be our decision about making changes to the MVCA. Furthermore, in terms of governance, we have local people sitting on the Board of Directors because the MVCA's office is located in the region. How can local people participate on the board if it's located an hour and half or possibly even two hours away? Nor can all decisions be made via Zoom. Good relationships are rarely built on line. As someone who taught both in the classroom and on line, I can tell you that there's a world of difference. That's why so many government departments are demanding that employees return to the workplace. Why would this government take a step in the opposite direction?

While amalgamation in the right circumstances can lead to greater efficiencies such as the City of Ottawa, amalgamation is not in and of itself a panacea. Having experienced the amalgamation of the school boards, professionally, I saw no efficiencies gained and service declined. Many parents that I dealt with over the years, found that it was difficult to reach people in distance offices. The new rural board with its huge geographic area has struggled mightily to find candidates for their board of trustees, largely because of the long commute to the board office.

Furthermore, experience has shown that if there is a problem with a particular organization, then it is often better to deal with that organization rather that tearing down the whole system. If there is a CA that is not fulfilling its mandate, best to deal with that CA directly. Our local MVCA is outstanding and should not be punished for the incompetence of others.

The only way to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the MVCA and to protect our watershed for the thousands of people who live in our area is for it to remain under local control.