I am vehemently opposed to…

I am vehemently opposed to the Provincial Government's plan to redraw the boundaries for the regional consolidation of Ontario’s Conservation Authorities. Having been a resident in Wheatley for a very long time, Two Creeks is a beloved part of our town's very fabric -- for nature, for recreation, for music, for environmental education, for community gatherings -- and more! People come from nearby and from further away to enjoy Two Creeks.

The Provincial Government brought in the Conservation Authorities Act in 1946 to protect people, property, and natural resources by managing land and water in an integrated, science-based, and locally driven way—an approach that was innovative at the time and remains just as important today.
Two Creeks Conservation area has strong ties with LTVCA and strong ties in the Wheatley community and surrounding communities, including residents and businesses. The Two Creeks area is in a wooded creek system along a major migratory route, and it protects the natural ecological health of the area. It is an important area for outdoor activities every month of every year. It is a space with free year-round access. People come from near and further away for music, for recreation, for public events, and more. It is an important space for community connections.

It is essential that the Two Creeks volunteers continue working with our local offices and local staff at those offices. Bigger is not better. No one knows our local needs better and can easily be there than the current office and field staff at LTVCA. And, yes, no one is irreplaceable. That said, new staff being pulled into overseeing 8 existing authorities with so many different needs means that everyone loses.
The Provincial government wants to create the OPCA (Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency), supposedly as part of its overall plan to “protect Ontario” by supporting economic growth, regulatory efficiency, and competitiveness. Nonsense! I believe it is a sleight of hand by the Provincial government that is actually hiding a way for them to speed up stealing land for local development. It is profit-driven and disgusting! It would be a travesty. Period.