I am concerned about the…

I am concerned about the proposed consolidation of conservation authorities, particularly the plan to merge the Niagara region with the Greater Toronto Area under a larger regional authority. Niagara’s watersheds, shorelines, and land-use pressures are fundamentally different from those of the GTA and require locally informed, responsive decision-making.

Niagara is home to intensive agriculture, a globally recognized wine-growing region, sensitive wetlands, and tourism-based communities that rely on the long-term health of the natural environment. The region also faces unique shoreline erosion and flooding risks along both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, as well as localized watercourse and agricultural drainage challenges. These conditions require site-specific knowledge and strong local relationships that have been built over decades.

Merging Niagara into a GTA-focused regional authority risks diluting this local expertise and replacing it with standardized policies designed primarily for dense urban growth. A larger authority dominated by GTA housing and infrastructure pressures may unintentionally deprioritize Niagara-specific needs such as vineyard viability, agricultural water management, wetland protection, shoreline resilience, and the natural assets that support tourism.

While consistency and efficiency are important objectives, they should not come at the expense of local accountability and environmental protection. I respectfully urge the province to exclude Niagara from any consolidation with the GTA, or at minimum to maintain a distinct, locally governed conservation authority for the Niagara watershed. Any modernization of the system should focus on improved funding, shared technical capacity, and service standards while preserving local governance, watershed-based decision-making, and the deep regional knowledge essential to protecting Niagara’s environment, economy, and communities.