There are numerous issues…

There are numerous issues with the proposed amalgamation, and therefore I am strongly not in favour of this proposal as written.

Issue 1 - Purported streamlining of overlapping resources: I don't agree with the premise that this amalgamation will be an efficient use of Conservation Authority resources. Conservation authorities already openly share resources and research to improve services provided. Also, what will happen to all of the systems each CA currently uses? The amalgamation will certainly require heavy investment of time and money to standardize systems across the newly joined CAs.
Issue 2 - Oversight: The installation of a new oversight agency is a centralization of decision making power. While this will streamline decision making, I believe this is a net negative because the individual CAs will no longer be able to act as a check and balance to stop corrupt and malicious actors who are more concerned with profiting from development than with maintaining healthy watersheds and preventing flooding.
Issue 3 - "Strategic Direction": How can the province say that little will change with Conservation Authority staffing and services provided, given that upper-level management structures will completely change? This proposal seeks to homogenize strategic direction, which by definition means that the programs and services provided by the organizations will undoubtedly change, wasting the effort spent on programs that are currently operating successfully.

I believe this proposal to be a short-sighted decision focused only on enabling faster development with no regard to the long term health of ecosystems and watersheds currently governed by Ontario's Conservation Authorities. The discussion questions posed are supported by, in my opinion, the false premise that this amalgamation will support better conservation operations moving forward. I believe that efficient operations, safe keeping the current system.