I have worked in the…

I have worked in the environmental field for over 5 years, specifically doing "boots on the ground" work similar to the work conservation authorities do. The main issue with this proposal is a substantial increase in operating costs and decrease in overall program quality due to logistical issues managing a large area. Contrary to what is stated in the proposal, this will make it more difficult for front line workers to do their job and get on-site for the activities listed. Increased travel time, locations to oversee, and more relationships to maintain with truly local organizations, businesses, and individual stakeholder/clients will make the regional conservation authorities far less effective than their local predecessors. This will cost more money and slow service delivery.

I urge you to reconsider this proposal, or at the least increase the number of proposed regional conservation authorities to maintain a geographic size and population maximum that frontline workers can reasonably maintain access to and relationships with.