I am opposed to the proposal…

I am opposed to the proposal to consolidate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into 7 large regional authorities as the resulting organization will be ineffective at applying science and local insight. I will provide more details in the following:

Conservation authorities function to serve a given geographical watershed, not political boundaries. Maintaining smaller, more focused watershed-based models results in efficiency while preserving local knowledge and relationships.
Local representation in the conservation authority means that member municipalities will use local knowledge and expertise to make decisions regarding the management of their own watershed's natural resources. Diluting local voices will remove meaningful representation that provides a balance among local concerns (developed land owners, agricultural properties, sensitive ecological areas, protection of the health of Lake Huron, etc.)
Watershed priorities MUST remain community driven.
Local conservation staff understand the water, land, people and challenges of the local watershed. Relationships have been nurtured over generations and therefore allow decisions that reflect the watershed's unique environmental, agricultural and community needs. Local expertise is essential for public safety, environmental protection, and the delivery of effective community services. Long standing relationships and expertise are key factors in the decades of success of current conservation authorities.
Existing programs and services developed by conservation authorities directly support the unique requests and needs of the local watershed landowners, municipalities, and communities. These programs and services represent the values of local residents especially concerning species-at-risk, environmental education for local youth/students, specialized technical advice, and outdoor recreation; these are just a few of the programs that will be lost under a centralized, standardized regional model and Must Be Protected. The proposed regional model, consolidation of boundaries, will lead to reduced service levels, loss of expertise, and diminished community access for local residents.
In my local conservation authority, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA), Efficient Planning and Permitting has been the normal way of processing permit applications. In 2024, the average time to process all types of permits was just 5.7 days. From start to finish, local staff worked closely with landowners, emphasized customer service and helped landowners identify safe building locations outside hazardous areas. Will the proposed digital permitting platform be able to match MVCA's turnaround times and maintain this high level of customer experience? Additionally, what will the costs be for developing and maintaining this platform? The average time for reviewing and issuing permits by all Conservation Authorities is 12.5 business days.
How can a regional funding model be fair to rural municipalities and avoid cost shifts that disadvantage small communities. Currently, member municipalities provide 80% of MVCA's operating budget (EIGHTY PER CENT) yet the province provides just 2% ... t.w.o. per cent! A business model has yet to be developed that will show that the locally supplied operating budget will Remain Local nor does there appear to be consideration provided that such fair and transparent funding will continue.
Decisions about lands and resources must stay close to the communities that use and care for these lands and resources.
The principles of Integrated Watershed Management must be based on Science, Geography and Local Hydrology NOT based on overly large administrative boundaries. Conservation Authorities and their member municipalities determine how to best achieve healthy, resilient and prosperous watersheds. As an example of successful collaboration between federal, provincial and county agencies, five Conservation Authorities and several community groups, Healthy Lake Huron (HLH) supports stewardship initiatives aimed at improving water quality along the Lake Huron shoreline. Using the example of HLH, Ontario must set its goal of effective, cost-efficient results through LOCAL watershed management.
Acceptance of input from municipalities, landowners, conservation authorities, Indigenous communities, and community groups prior to any final decision being made is imperative. A recent meeting, December 8, 2025 in Collingwood was a failed attempt by the Province of Ontario to obtain input from municipalities. In addition to beginning late and 60 minutes dedicated to review of the proposed consolidation, only 30 minutes was provided for attendees to provide input but that input was requested on very targeted questions that only supported this consolidation model instead of obtaining valid concerns that have yet to be heard or addressed.

Please do NOT Support the pursuit of this consolidation.