I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the proposed regional consolidation of Ontario’s conservation authorities. This proposal weakens local, watershed-based decision-making and undermines the ability of conservation authorities to protect water quality, wetlands, floodplains, and natural heritage.

Conservation authorities exist to manage environmental risk at the watershed level, not to streamline approvals for development. This proposal appears driven by a desire to reduce regulatory “barriers” for construction and development interests, at the expense of long-term public safety, drinking water protection, and environmental resilience.

Centralizing or consolidating authorities reduces local expertise, accountability, and responsiveness to unique watershed conditions. The long-term costs will be borne by communities through increased flooding risk, degraded waterways, and irreversible damage to Ontario’s waterways.

If this proposal proceeds, it will permanently determine my voting behaviour. Nothing will ever change my mind on this issue. Policies like this create scorched-earth voters... Individuals who will actively and consistently vote against the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party in every future election no matter what form they take.

I urge the government to withdraw this proposal and instead strengthen, not weaken, watershed-based environmental protection.