Dear Members of Provincial…

Dear Members of Provincial Parliament,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 68 and the proposed merger of Conservation Authorities, including the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA). This legislation raises serious concerns about effectiveness, cost, governance, and the loss of local decision-making that is fundamental to strong conservation outcomes.

To date, the Province has not provided clear evidence demonstrating why these mergers are necessary. While the proposal suggests a regional approach is required to address inefficiencies and streamline permit approvals, it does not identify where existing Conservation Authorities are failing or provide data to support restructuring the entire system. Challenges such as inconsistent service levels or outdated systems could be addressed through targeted improvements rather than large-scale mergers.

Local decision-making will also be significantly weakened. Hamilton and Puslinch municipalities currently fund approximately 35% of HCA’s operations and, in return, have a meaningful voice in watershed-based decisions that directly affect their communities. The Province contributes less than 1% of HCA’s funding. Under a 28-municipality merged authority, local voices will inevitably carry less influence, despite municipalities continuing to fund the work.

Mergers of this scale are costly, and there is no clear funding plan. Integrating conservation lands, visitor services, memberships, staffing structures, governance models, and IT systems would be complex and expensive. The Province has not explained who will bear these costs or provided evidence that amalgamation will result in long-term savings.

HCA already delivers efficient and reliable service. In 2024, 94% of major permits were processed on time, meeting or exceeding provincial expectations. This demonstrates that well-functioning Conservation Authorities should be supported and resourced—not reorganized—when they are already performing effectively.

Strong conservation depends on local relationships. For more than sixty years, HCA’s success has been built on trusted partnerships with municipalities, community organizations, landowners, volunteers, foundations, and Indigenous partners. These place-based relationships are critical to effective environmental protection and stewardship. A larger, more centralized agency risks weakening the collaboration that underpins conservation success.

Finally, many key details remain unknown. Governance structures, costs, implementation timelines, staffing impacts, land management, branding, and community effects have not been clearly articulated. Proceeding without this information creates unnecessary uncertainty and risk for both municipalities and conservation outcomes.

For these reasons, I urge you to oppose Bill 68 and reconsider the proposed Conservation Authority mergers. The focus should be on strengthening existing authorities, improving resources where needed, and preserving local accountability that ensures conservation efforts remain effective and community-driven.

Thank you