ERO number 025-1257 Regional…

ERO number 025-1257
Regional Consolidation of Ontario’s Conservation Authorities

I am writing to share my concern with the proposed amalgamation of Conservation Authorities, and specifically the proposed Western Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority.

The proposed Western Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority will encompass 490,000 hectares across nearly two million residents and 28 municipalities. With competing interests of populations within such a diverse geography and rural/urban interests, the proposed amalgamation will weaken local voices. Niagara Region, with its relatively smaller population within the proposed conservation authority (CA), will be competing with larger communities for financial and human resources. Niagara Peninsula Tender Fruit and Grape Lands are provincially recognized specialty crop areas with unique concerns.

The Niagara Peninsula’s microclimate and soils that are responsible for the specialty crop lands are influenced by two Great Lakes - Lake Ontario and Lake Erie - and the Niagara Escarpment. The proposed Western Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority both in name and description does not recognize the unique characteristics of the Niagara Region. Ideally, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority should remain autonomous. At a minimum, the name and description should reflect both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, and the description reference the importance of the specialty crop areas.

Community engagement and an individual community lens in delivering services have been an important hallmark of conservation authorities. The proposed amalgamation risks affecting how conservation authorities operate including their ability to deliver programs and services that meet the needs of local communities. I understand that conservation authorities have not been provided with an analysis that demonstrates that the current watershed-based model requires the proposed significant structural change to improve efficiency and that the change will not have a negative impact watershed management and delivery of local services.