Sharing this comment on all…

Sharing this comment on all applicable legislative changes: Conservation authorities are the experts at performing their work (i.e., natural hazard assessments, planning for development in flood-prone areas, conservation and recreation programs), not municipalities. Keep Conservation Authority powers with the Conservation Authorities, as they do their work efficiently and save the province costs in the long-run (i.e., by avoiding home and subdivision flooding!). As a young person, I support the government's efforts to increase the rate of new housing being built. However, this should be done by increasing density in existing urban and suburban areas - more missing middle options (like walk-up apartment buildings, townhomes) in currently single-family-zoned areas as of right would be more effective. We don't need to destroy more of the natural environment to build more homes, we just need to use our already developed land more efficiently. This would also reduce the infrastructure costs associated with sprawl. Natural heritage belongs to us all, and building over it is not needed to increase the supply of housing. Build more, smarter, rather than continuing the mistakes made by governments past. Wetlands in particular are sensitive and incredibly valuable ecosystems that are far more valuable to communities as natural ecosystems, rather than another subdivision of single family homes.
Please, maintain Conservation Authorities powers, and build homes where we need them - in the communities we already love.