The proposed amalgamation of…

The proposed amalgamation of Conservation Authorities across Ontario will undoubtedly result in reduced service provision to the local municipalities and residents that they represent.

It is furthermore challenging to comment on the proposed amalgamation when such little information has been provided about how this will roll out organizationally. Will local offices and staff remain? Will site visits be conducted efficiently (i.e., without extremely long driving times, based on the proposed boundaries)? How will local municipal officials be represented on Boards of Directors, given that each proposed boundary contains so many municipalities? How will lands be managed, and what legal challenges might arise if the Province attempts to take over these properties?

There appear to be more questions than answers at this time. Local municipal officials need to be represented within each Conservation Authority. Local municipalities, through the property tax base, have levied millions of dollars over a Conservation Authorities lifespan. As such, local municipalities and their residents deserve to have a high quality of service provision from Conservation Authorities.

As a regional planner in a rural area, we are already seeing a reduction of service provision since Bill 23, and the impacts it has had on development approvals. In fact, the Bill 23 changes have not resulted in speedier or more cost effective approvals. Approvals take the same time or longer, as staff manage a high volume of files with less resources. Natural heritage planning has shifted to the municipalities, who rely on expensive environmental consultants to provide peer-reviewing services. These peer-reviewing services are billed directly to the applicant/developer.

It is unclear how the proposed amalgamation and continued dismantling of Conservation Authorities addresses the Province's goals to mitigate and adapt to climate change and protect people and property from natural hazards. Rather than diminishing the role that Conservation Authorities provide to municipalities and the public, we should be leaning in even more to their expertise on flood management, climate change resiliency, natural asset management, and natural heritage planning.

It is alarming that the Province is choosing to further dismantle the Conservation Authorities (the envy of many Provinces) during unprecedented climate change / global warming and the severe and unpredictable storms it creates. Please accept the science, and support our Conservation Authorities and the incredible work they do. We do not need any further changes to the Conservation Authorities mandate - the proposed amalgamation will do nothing but reduce service provision, reduce local representation, create confusion, slow development approvals and put people and property at risk.

Thank you for your continued consideration.