What do you see as key…

What do you see as key factors to support a successful transition and outcome of regional conservation authority consolidation?

I believe that this proposal is a solution looking for a problem. Presenting this as a fait accompli and then asking loaded questions that assume this proposal is reasonable is a disingenuous approach. At a minimum, this should require municipal consent. The proposed boundaries consolidate into larger and in my opinion, unmanageable organizations.

What opportunities or benefits may come from a regional conservation authority framework?

None that I can see. Having lived through a municipal amalgamation, with 25 years experience as a senior leader with a large municipality, I remain unconvinced of the premise that bigger is better. The idea of increased efficiencies is a myth. Costs will absolutely rise, and the people will have less and less input and control over issues in their own local watersheds. I have not seen a government organization yet get bigger and more efficient. in fact, it is the opposite. costs go up, decisions take longer, and taxpayers have less say. This proposal further erodes respect for local governance in this province, sacrificed for the myth of efficiency.

Do you have suggestions for how governance could be structured at the regional conservation authority level, including suggestions around board size, make-up and the municipal representative appointment process?

My suggestion is to leave it alone. Given the size of the conservation authorities proposed, I find it hard to envision a way to govern. Competing priorities with literally dozens of municipalities affected in any one authority will make it practically impossible for staff to make decisions. The size and makeup of the board would undoubtably leave many of the smaller players out of the decision making process.

Do you have suggestions on how to maintain a transparent and consultative budgeting process across member municipalities within a regional conservation authority?

The process for budgeting forsomethingo like this will be nearly impossible. Don't even pretend it is about transparency and a consultative process. There is no way for municipalities to have meaningful input into this process. Given strong mayor powers, local councils no longer even have meaningful input into their own budgets! How are earth would you expect upward of 80 to 90 municipalities (in the case of the proposed Lake Erie district for example) to have any real meaningful input into this. at least be honest with people.

How can regional conservation authorities maintain and strengthen relationships with local communities and stakeholders?

Under the proposal, quite frankly, they can"t. This proposal is designed to weaken the relationship between municipalities and conservation authorities. It is designed to further consolidate power and decision making into the hands of a few, making it easier for the province to control. Why don"t you just skip a step and take them all over as a division of the MNR?

In summary, the proposed realignment and governance of the authorities can only serve to increase costs, reduce efficiencies, remove decision making to a larger remote bureaucratic structure, and ultimately worsen the conditions around our environmental watersheds.