I am against the…

I am against the consolidation of Ontario’s conservation authorities. We must keep conservation local, with local staff who understand the water, land and challenges. I reside in the proposed Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority, which is much too large to remain responsive and effective. Local representation is essential and this proposal removes local voices, as well as unique programming and resources. Environmental governance is most effective when decision-making aligns with ecological boundaries (like watersheds) and when institutions are locally knowledgeable and accountable. Conservation authorities uniquely bring together municipalities, Indigenous communities, scientists, landowners, and residents to collaboratively address climate change impacts, flooding risk, habitat protection, and source water safety. These are complex, place-specific issues that cannot be effectively managed through distant, centralized structures that lack local ecological knowledge and established partnerships.