This is one in a long line…

This is one in a long line of boneheaded ideas put forward by this government.

Nearly 80 years ago a great deal of consideration was put into the formation of the conservation authorities in Ontario. a wise government chose boundaries based on complete watersheds because they recognized that each drainage system had idiosyncrasies that could not be accounted for at a broader scale when it came to decision making. The system in place has worked quite well for decades with respect to protection of property, community safety, and access to water. The additional benefits provided by associated activities, such as access to land for recreation, are of no small consequence either.

There is absolutely no reason to change the current conservation authority jurisdictional boundaries or to reduce their number. If one of the goals as stated is to concentrate staff on frontline work then perhaps a funding model better suited to the work CAs do should be explored.

Really this a transparent attempt at further undermining the scope and influence the authorities have. In an era that is seeing increasing volatility in weather patterns and subsequent lack of predictability in flood events ( Peterborough 2003, and numerous events on the Don Valley parkway as examples) we should be doing everything we can to bolster CAs effectiveness. When the first words out of the Environment Minister in support of this plan have to do with getting shovels in the ground faster through deregulation then we know things have gone off the rails. He is the Environment Minister not the Minister of infrastructure or housing.

If this plan continues as written there will be a serious lag in decision making due to the ridiculously enormous geography each CA will be responsible for. Further, local knowledge of water drainage and retention will be lost or swamped by the enormity and municipalities will not get the expert advice to which they currently have access and certainly not in a timely manner. Subsequently there will be property damage, financial losses, and the possibility of injury.

The best course of action would be to leave well enough alone. Or if the current government really wanted to consider the taxpayer (read: voter) they would also reverse some of the previous changes made to Conservation Authorities since coming into "power"