Merging Ontario's 36…

Merging Ontario's 36 conservation authorities into 7 could have detrimental effects on the environment and community. As an employee of The Ganaraska Conservation Authority, I have seen first hand the knowledge Conservation Authorities have of their local environment and the work they do for the community. Merging these Conservation Authorities could undermine decades of hard work and lead to a higher frequency of natural hazards such as flooding, due to a lack of communication and connection with the general public. Furthermore, in any environmental issue it is vital to incorporate an adaptive co-management framework. Merging the conservation authorities would limit the amount of voices being heard from scientists who understand the local environment they are studying and collecting data on, farmers, Indigenous peoples, and the community.