To the Government of Ontario…

To the Government of Ontario and Concerned Community Members,

I am writing to express strong opposition to the proposed consolidation of Ontario’s conservation authorities, which would reduce their number from 36 to just 7. Under this plan, the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) would be merged with an organization located nearly 1,500 kilometres away—a move that does not reflect how watersheds function or what our region needs.

The LRCA provides essential, locally focused work that cannot be replaced by a distant, centralized authority. Watershed management depends on local expertise, on-the-ground experience, and an understanding of regional conditions. The Lakehead area is shaped by unique landscapes—Lake Superior’s shoreline, cold-water streams, erosion-prone clay cliffs, and boreal forest ecosystems. These systems behave very differently from those in southern Ontario, and they cannot be effectively managed from across the province.

Merging the LRCA would remove the local knowledge that protects our community from flooding, erosion, and storm impacts—risks that are only increasing with climate change. It would also slow down services, reduce responsiveness, and weaken the accountability residents currently have through a local board and staff who live and work in this region.

The LRCA provides more than regulation. It delivers education, environmental monitoring, conservation area maintenance, and stewardship programs that directly benefit our community. These local programs will not receive the same attention or resources in a mega-authority responsible for thousands of kilometres of territory.

The Lakehead Region deserves a conservation authority that understands our watershed, our land, and our people. Local decisions should remain in local hands.

I urge the Government of Ontario to reconsider this merger and maintain the independence of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority.