I am responding to this ERO…

I am responding to this ERO posting as a taxpayer and resident of Peel Region.

1. What do you see as key factors to support a successful transition and outcome of regional conservation authority consolidation?

Conservation authorities in the GTA function extremely well - in all areas such as recreation management, flood management, watershed science, and land use planning support. I am very concerned that under amalgamation, taxpayer dollars would be wasted on renaming assets and making complex administrative changes. The cost for rebranding a single conservation authority alone could likely run into a few million dollars, consuming any perceived efficiencies of scale.

Provincial goals for amalgamation could easily be met by having the OPCA perform a coordinating function.

A full cost analysis—similar to what is done for typical municipal mergers—should be completed before any decisions are made. See the cautionary example of the proposed dissolution of Peel Region that ultimately did not make sense.

Larger regional conservation authorities may introduce more red tape and bureaucracy, which could hinder effectiveness and client access to programs and services.

2. What opportunities or benefits may come from a regional conservation authority framework?

A provincial organization such as an OPCA could help ensure a strong return on taxpayer investment by enforcing higher standards and promoting consistent science and land-use planning across jurisdictions. However, consistency and resource sharing among the 36 conservation authorities can already be achieved without consolidation, via a coordination role by OPCA.

A regional framework may be most beneficial for smaller conservation authorities, which could be supported through enabling legislation allowing them to voluntarily share staff and resources. The Province could also allocate funding to help smaller authorities realize these benefits, which would support both environmental and economic outcomes.

If smaller conservation authorities wish to merge or to realize economies of scale in other ways, the province could start with those as a pilot.

3. Do you have suggestions for how governance could be structured at the regional conservation authority level, including board size, make-up, and appointment process?

Large boards create unnecessary costs related to travel and administration, and they may divert tax dollars away from the priorities of individual municipalities. The number of board members required to ensure local representation would be unmanageably large, and create unnecessary costs for taxpayers. Their focus would shift from an intimate knowledge of local issues to a higher level administrative function - local focus would be lost.

If regional coordination is required, the OPCA could oversee conservation authorities. This body could help coordinate permitting, scientific work, and other shared functions without eliminating local governance and creating needless costs.

4. Do you have suggestions on how to maintain a transparent and consultative budgeting process across member municipalities within a regional conservation authority?

Support by the province for the OPCA may help ensure equity across municipalities. The Province should provide financial support to smaller conservation authorities so that costs are not downloaded onto municipalities.

5. How can regional conservation authorities maintain and strengthen relationships with local communities and stakeholders?

They can maintain strong relationships by keeping existing local conservation authorities in place, as these organizations are the ones that provide direct services and maintain close ties with their communities.