Hello, I strongly believe…

Hello,

I strongly believe that the conservation authorities need to determine their future. If some consolidation is valuable especially for smaller authorities, let them determine how that works. Some of the proposed consolidations are too large such as Grand River Conservation Authority which is the area I live in.

The latest actions from the Ontario government regarding the Conservation Authorities and the recent news from the Region of Waterloo about low water supplies have heightened concern about the availability of clean water for the residents of this region and beyond.
(Note: Many Conservation Authorities in the province are already warning about low water levels.)

Bill 68, with its amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act, will result in the establishment of an Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) which will oversee the Ontario Conservation Authorities and the amalgamation of 36 existing authorities into seven. This change will undermine the ability of the authorities to carry out their important work of protecting people and property from flooding and other natural hazards and conserving natural resources including lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater. One of the ways the Conservation Authorities have done their job is by regulating development to minimize risks of flooding and other environmental impacts by issuing permits only to those who will not endanger water sources or property. The government’s rationale for making changes to the conservation authorities now and over the last several years has been to facilitate the ease of development permit approvals being issued.

The changes to the Conservation Authorities Act are short-sighted and could lead to dire consequences for Ontario residents such as water shortages, contaminated water sources and homes damaged from natural disasters.

Conservation Authorities currently provide a wealth of local knowledge both from staff and residents and local initiatives that respond to local watershed needs and are supported locally. They have a record of successful innovation of policy initiatives such as the implementation of Stormwater Protection measures that have been specific to each watershed. A regional approach would compromise locally focused solutions.

What assurance is there that the 22 provincially appointed board members for the new agency have the expertise and local knowledge to adequately govern the new regional conservation authorities?

Despite the fact that the municipalities will still be required to provide significant funding for the new conservation authorities, they will have little or no say in the way the OPCA operates. Where is the accountability in this plan? Where’s the guarantee that local needs will be addressed? One size does not fit all!

It is critical for the provincial government to reconsider the amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act so that the Conservation Authorities can continue to do their job of protecting people and property and conserving natural resources. I believe a majority of the Conservation Authorities have expressed their concerns. Please listen and delay this bill.
Thank you for listening.