I have concerns with Bill…

I have concerns with Bill 108 and Changes to the Conservation Authorities Act (schedule 2) including. Conservation Authorities are a unique made-in-Ontario model that has stood the test of time for over 70 years and are good value for money. They are flexible and responsive to the local environmental needs in our watersheds. They are also a boots on the ground presence in our community and no one else fills this role. Since 1946 the core mandate of Conservation Authorities has been the program and services that further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources on a watershed scale. After the devastating floods of Hurricane Hazel in 1953, the mandate to control floods and pollution was added.

Floodplains and drinking water cannot be managed if Conservation Authorities are not looking at the whole watershed system. Protecting people and property and managing natural hazards like flooding requires a watershed view. Conservation Authorities are major providers of restoration activities (tree planting, wetland restoration, forest management) and monitoring watershed health in Ontario. The natural environment contributes clean air, clean water and a multitude of benefits important to the health and well-being of the people of Ontario. I am of the opinion that the province should include an additional mandatory program area of “conservation of natural resources” to capture some of the core programs and services that have long been part of Conservation Authority work including: including:
• inventory and monitoring,
• tree planting and forest management,
• natural heritage systems planning,
• habitat restoration and creation,
• invasive species management, and
• stewardship/outreach activities
Conservation areas and lands provide opportunities for recreation as well as long term protection of natural areas. CAs need the resources to manage these lands and provide for Ontario’s growing population.

I sense the intent of this proposed new legislation is to pave the way for Ontario to be “open for Business” at the expense of the environment. This bill severely narrows Conservation Authority Role, Species at risk protection, environmental assessments, municipal funding models etc. We Ontarians are fed up with urban sprawl, the loss of nature and biodiversity and the fact that developers seem to get their way with politicians at great expense to the public good. I do not want to see this Legislation passed and I urge you to abandon it.