The current Conservation…

The current Conservation Areas in Ontario have been in existence for over 50 years. While not perfect, they provide a necessary service to protect the citizens of Ontario through watershed management and source water protection. Since Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act of 2022 was opposed by Conservation Ontario, the umbrella organization representing Ontario’s Conservation areas the current government’s main priority does not seem to be strengthening protections for our provincial environment and watersheds.
The proposed consolidation of CAs is the latest example. Planning, permitting and approval of developments is currently handled at the municipal level and CAs are now somewhat municipally based. They work directly with their local government to review, amend and/or approve developments that may be subject to environmental issues such as flooding. Removing this step from local oversight by transferring authority to a regional body lacking local knowledge and experience may in fact slow down the entire process. This entire effort could in fact work against your objective of streamlining the existing approval process.
I am writing as past chair of the Hamilton Conservation Foundation and throughout our 50 year history we have raised in excess of $15 million to support operations the Hamilton CA. Considerable funds remain in endowment funds and many acres of sensitive land have been both donated and purchased with donations. How might donors both past and future feel about these changes when they may no longer know to whom they are donating? The technical aspects of amalgamation seem daunting at best and if your real objective is to streamline the development process there are much more efficient ways to do this. Conservation Ontario could be a ministerial department that actually oversees all of the CAs, implementing proper processes and systems to standardize the approval and permitting process. Procedures for flood control and source water protection could also be strengthened and standardized and this could all be done without losing local input and expertise. As a longtime member of the Hamilton CA family I know there is significant room for improvement and integration with other CAs in the province. I’m not convinced that amalgamation is the answer you are looking for.
Best Regards
Matt Casey
Former Chair, Hamilton Conservation Foundation