The people of Niagara know…

The people of Niagara know the needs of Niagara better than those in the Golden Horseshoe. Our climate, weather patterns, soil, flora, fauna and ecosystems are unique. Some of these are found no where else in the province! The peninsula between the two great lakes and fertile soil create a unique agriculture ecosystem that only those farming it understand. This is also true for the conservation authorities. We have unique growing zones and Carolinian forest that does not exist in the upper golden horseshoe.

Niagara is a proud municipality and it would do a great disservice to pass this policy and combine the conservation areas. Our taxes and park fees right now go to maintaining our unique peninsula and this sibergnty should not be taken away. Especially by just signing a policy without a democratic process allowing the people of Niagara to decide what is best for our community.

I emplore you to not mix these two conversation authorities. It would be a mistake. It would end up underfunding both areas and harm the endangered fauna and flora.

At minimum, please do a full third party assessment. I know the findings will show what I have mentioned to be true. The two areas are too unique in their own right. Citizens deserve our green space preserved. We also deserve to vote and make our own decisions about the land we live on, are caretakers for, and love.

Please take my plea seriously as someone with relevant creditials in biology, ecology and environmental science (BSc Honours), who is a wildlife veterinarian (DVM), and who has a PhD in epidemiology with a focus on wildlife disease ecology. My works at includes rabies outbreaks in Niagara. We need to keep our conservation area authorities seperate. Most importantly take this as a plea from a citizen of Niagara who has lived here for 40 years.