General comments: I do not…

General comments:

I do not support the proposal to consolidate Ontario’s Conservation Authorities into seven regional units. Watershed-based conservation is the biggest strength of Ontario’s Conservation Authorities and what makes them a unique example of community-based natural resource management. The watershed-based approach allows experts with specialized local knowledge to protect people and nature in their own communities. It is local knowledge that allows Conservation Authorities to play a vital role in protecting Ontarians from flooding. With climate change now causing increased risks of floods and other extreme events, now is not the time to weaken Conservation Authorities by consolidating them.

A top-down approach, with regionally consolidated CAs does not allow for community-based management of waterways, landscapes and wetlands, taking away the largest strength of Ontario’s world-class Conservation Authority model. Too many municipalities will be ‘sharing’ Conservation Authorities under the proposed consolidation. Consolidating Conservation Authorities will result in developers and municipalities from wide-ranging areas being serviced by a regional Conservation Authority that does not know the local context of their problems. Changing the permitting processes of Conservation Authorities will also create considerable confusion among developers and resource users, as they are forced to figure out a new process after losing their contacts and local-level Conservation Authorities. The proposed changes would be costly, confusing, and regressive.

Instead of consolidating Conservation Authorities, they should be given more tools and resources to improve turnaround times for permitting and processing. This will be far more effective at accomplishing the stated goals of this proposal.

Response to discussion questions:

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

Maintaining local-level knowledge of natural resources is essential, and would be severely weakened by consolidation.

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

Any benefits derived from consolidating Ontario’s Conservation Authorities would be overshadowed by the monetary costs and administrative burden incurred by municipalities and new regional CAs. The loss of local-level knowledge would also be a dangerous consequence of this proposal.

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?

Governance of a new regional Conservation Authority would be immensely challenging. Travel costs would be exorbitant for in-person planning meetings (e.g. municipality representatives). Too many municipalities with differing priorities and perspectives would need to be involved in governance, leading to further delays in all operations.

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

To maintain a transparent and consultative budgeting process, the watershed approach should be maintained. Municipalities should not be forced to fund operations outside of their local watershed. The regional approach will be unfair to member municipalities because the proposed regions are too wide-ranging.

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

If strengthening and maintaining relationships with local communities and stakeholders is a priority, then the regional Conservation Authority approach is inappropriate. Conservation decision making must occur at a local level.