I am very concerned about…

I am very concerned about the potential negative effects of the extreme amalgamation of conservation authorities (from 36 local conservation agencies down to 7) that the Ontario government is proposing. My concern is substantiated by comments—reported to the media--from staff who work within conservation authorities and municipal officials affiliated with conservation authorities.

The main pitfalls of amalgamation are as follows:
1) Ontario is an enormous province with vastly diverse geology, even between areas that appear to be close to each other on a map. This means that conservation staff MUST have the localized scientific knowledge to understand how water moves through a specific area and how changes to the landscape will affect the AVAILABILITY OF WATER, the QUALITY OF WATER and the POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING. With the loss of local conservation authorities, how will CONSISTENT, ONGOING LOCAL SCIENTIFIC MONITORING be possible?

2) It will not save money. In the words of Jonathan Scott (chair of the Nottawasaga C.A.): “The costs of integrating governance, technology and operations across such a vast area could easily outweigh any savings, while adding complexity and distance.”

3) It will redirect money from municipalities to the Province.

4) It will weaken the voices of local municipal leaders. Karen Nesbitt, policy director for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, explains that this will result in "a major loss of local control over conservation and environmental protection in communities.”

5) Loss of accountability. Who will be accountable when poor planning choices lead to increased flooding and loss/contamination of local water sources? Who will foot the bill for providing solutions to those problems?