Hello, Thank you for the…

Hello,

Thank you for the information that has been provided about the proposed regional consolidation of Conservation Authorities in Ontario. I, along with many other Ontarians, have significant concerns about this proposal and do not think it should proceed towards implementation.

The current Conservation Authority model protects people from flooding and erosion and could be enhanced by the Provincial government for the benefit of all Ontarians by providing more adequate funding to all CAs. Conservation Authorities protect Ontarians and they should be empowered to continue doing so; Ontario has not seen catastrophic flood events in highly developed areas like the Calgary region in 2013 or British Columbia in 2021. Without continued robust natural hazard management, we risk undermining these protections for future generations.

Furthermore, some of the content in the ERO posting makes me question how much thought has really gone into creating this proposal, which in turn makes the intent of it feel dubious. For example, in the proposed “Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority”, the Cataraqui River is listed as an example of a watershed draining into Eastern Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte. The Cataraqui River system drains into the St. Lawrence River.

In addition to my comments above, I have also provided my thoughts on the questions posed in the ERO posting:

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

I do not believe regional consolidation is necessary nor would it be beneficial for Ontario. A successful transition and outcome would require early and thorough consultation with Conservation Authorities, municipalities and other stakeholders prior to formulation of a plan, which was not done in this case.

What opportunities or benefits may come from a regional conservation authority framework?

That is very uncertain at this time. There could be more equal funding allocations to Conservation Authorities throughout the province, but that could also be remedied with the current model if the Province provided more adequate funding.

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?

I am not sure how municipalities could be equally represented on a reasonably-sized Board based on the proposed new boundaries. Municipalities should be given proportional representation on Boards as they are now. It would not be appropriate to require municipalities to provide funding to an organization they don't have meaningful representation on.

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

Again, I am not sure why time, effort and taxpayer dollars are required to change a system that is already functional. Conservation Authorities currently work closely with their municipal partners (who are also their primary funders by a large margin) to develop budgets in a transparent manner.

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

I cannot see how creating larger agencies could possibly lead to maintained or improved relationships with local communities and stakeholders. The current size of Conservation Authorities lends itself well to establishing and maintaining relationships as staff can make direct connections with these contacts. This is something Conservation Authorities and their staff do very well currently.

In summary, I do not support this proposal and request that this process be halted until a more thoughtful and thorough review of the Conservation Authority framework involving CA staff, Board members and other stakeholders can be undertaken. I request that my provincial government focus on supporting the work that Conservation Authorities do (i.e. by providing adequate funding, technical support for floodplain mapping, etc.) rather than arbitrarily changing their boundaries and turning them into large, clunky, inefficient bureaucracies.

Thank you for your consideration.