Letter to the Province of…

Letter to the Province of Ontario
Re: Proposed boundaries for the regional consolidation of Ontario’s conservation authorities
ERO number 025-1257

To Whom It May Concern,

On behalf of our organization, Hastings Trails Destination Inc., which supports and promotes a network of non-motorized recreational trails throughout Hastings County, we write to share our unequivocal opposition to the proposed consolidation of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into seven regional bodies under the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA).

This legislation threatens to weaken wetlands protection, diminish local stewardship, and silence community voices in favour of developer convenience and administrative efficiency. Wetlands are not expendable assets — they are irreplaceable ecosystems that safeguard Ontario’s communities against flooding, store carbon, and sustain biodiversity. Prioritizing faster permits over ecological integrity is a gamble with the province’s climate resilience and public safety.

Our work depends on close collaboration with the Crowe Valley Conservation Authority (CVCA), including regular monitoring of trail quality, watershed conditions, and ecological sensitivities across our region. We reject the framing of “efficiency” as a justification for amalgamation. Conservation is not about saving money or streamlining permits — it is about protecting ecosystems and all communities. A reduction from 36 authorities to 7 will mean fewer local offices, fewer points of evidence gathering, and less responsiveness to the unique pressures of smaller watersheds and rural communities. Trails, recreation networks, and local ecological monitoring will be deprioritized under pooled budgets and regional mandates.

We demand that the Province:

1. Commit to wetlands protection as a non‑negotiable priority, above developer timelines.
Wetlands are irreplaceable ecosystems that safeguard Ontario against flooding, store carbon, and sustain biodiversity. They must be protected first, not sacrificed for faster permits or cost savings.

2. Guarantee watershed‑specific representation and decision‑making authority.
Local voices and ecological expertise must remain central. Watershed‑based governance ensures that unique regional conditions are not lost in a larger bureaucratic structure.

3. Ensure transparent, watershed‑level budgeting with equitable minimum allocations.
Smaller watersheds and rural communities must not be overshadowed. Budgets must be clearly delineated and reported at the watershed level to prevent resource diversion.

4. Protect local staffing and community engagement mechanisms.
Local staff are the bridge between ecosystems and communities. Distant regional offices cannot replace their knowledge and relationships.

5. Provide explicit assurances that trail stewardship, maintenance, and ecological monitoring will not be sacrificed under regional consolidation.
Trails are vital for recreation, community health, and ecological awareness. They must continue to receive dedicated support and resources.

Wetlands must remain Ontario’s non‑negotiable priority. Ontario has an opportunity to lead by example, as countries such as China have demonstrated. Since 2020, China has restored more than 2.8 million hectares of wetlands, including the Yellow River Delta, where restoration has revived 188 bird species and now provides an estimated $64 billion annually in ecosystem services such as flood control, water purification, and carbon sequestration (Hao C, Wu S,Cheng W, Chen M, Ren Y, Chang X, Zhang L. Spatiotemporal Relationship Between Landscape Pattern and Ecosystem Service Connectivity in Wetland Environment: Evidence from Yellow River Delta, China. Land. 2025; 14(2):273. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020273).

This achievement is not accidental — it is the direct result of sound science guiding social, economic, ecological, and political decisions. Ontario could join this global movement by adopting an ecosystem‑first governance model, demonstrating that wetland protection is not only possible but also essential for long‑term resilience.

Short-term savings or faster permits do not measure actual financial gain; instead, they strengthen ecological systems that deliver lasting economic and social benefits. China’s science‑based approach shows that investing in wetlands yields prosperity across generations.

As an organization working at ground level with volunteers, landowners, and recreation groups, we have seen firsthand how important strong relationships and local responsiveness are to environmental stewardship. Ontario must recognize that the choices we make today will determine whether future generations inherit resilient ecosystems or degraded landscapes. Ontario has an opportunity to demonstrate authentic leadership by putting ecosystems first. We urge the Government to withdraw this proposal and recommit to strengthening — not dismantling — local conservation governance. Protecting wetlands, trails, and communities requires a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ecological, social, and economic realities, ensuring protection, resilience and security for future generations across the whole community of life.

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors
Hastings Trails Destination Inc.