We can not lose the local…

We can not lose the local community access to CA expertise or greenspaces. Maintaining local offices with staff knowledgeable on a specific watershed is imperative to allow local stakeholders to access stewardship services, maintain effective flood forecasting and warning, manage natural hazards, and provide effective guidance. Conservation Authorities were created at the local level to manage natural hazards and environmental degradation at the local watershed scale. Any consolidation needs to ensure that it doesn’t lose that core aspect of why conservation authorities were created.

1) What do you see as key factors to support a successful transition and outcome of regional conservation authority consolidation?

The proposed regions are far too large to successfully manage and maintain the current level of service. A successful transition needs to effectively support and enhance existing local services and regional conservation authority offices to engage with the local community.
If the province proceeds with consolidation, it should consider reducing the size of the proposed regions. For example, the Lake Erie Region Conservation Authority would have 81 member municipalities and stretch from Guelph to Windsor. That size goes beyond “balancing expertise and capacity” as there are already multiple CAs with expertise and capacity within that region.
The province could achieve it’s stated goals without consolidation by releasing updated technical guides and policies that clarify and standardize work across the different conservation authorities.

2) What opportunities or benefits may come from a regional conservation authority framework?
If the province combines consolidation with additional investment in stable funding for core Conservation Authority programs, along with updated and clear standards and technical guides, then there will be improved consistency across different CAs. By the province funding an improved e-permitting platform, it may provide opportunities for more efficient project tracking and improve response times, as long as the system does not introduce additional bottlenecks into a system that is currently meeting provincial timelines.

3) Do you have suggestions for how governance could be structured at the regional conservation authority level, including suggestions around board size, make-up and the municipal representative appointment process?

Conservation Authorities were formed by local member municipalities to manage the local watershed and its natural resources. The regional conservation authorities need to maintain that local municipal decision-making and representation. Diluting local members by having a board made up of 81 different municipalities will lose that local voice.

4) Do you have suggestions on how to maintain a transparent and consultative budgeting process across member municipalities within a regional conservation authority?

The province needs to have consultation with CAs to develop clear guidelines to determine how existing CA assets, such as large capital infrastructure, reserves, or land assets, will be handled during consolidation. Local municipalities have funded the development of these assets and will want to have a clear and transparent process for how their assets are being handled.

5) How can regional conservation authorities maintain and strengthen relationships with local communities and stakeholders?

The regional conservation authorities need to maintain local offices with local staff who have knowledge and experience for the individual watersheds. Many different CAs have developed local programs in partnership with their local municipal interests and needs. It is important to preserve these local programs to maintain the strong relationship with the local community and stakeholders.