It is a disastrous mistake…

It is a disastrous mistake to include the Lakehead region conservation authority in the larger conservation authority that is proposed for the Huron superior region. There is a massive difference between what is needed in the Parry sound area versus what is required for support in the thunder Bay area. Specifically the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway is of critical importance to the safety and protection of the Inter-City core of both cities of Port Arthur and Fort William. Both confederation college, and Lakehead University are situated on this floodway. Oversight from a conservation authority situated 1500 km away is disconnected from the needs of the largest city in northern Ontario.

The province has lost touch with what the regional needs are. It is not an unthinkable ask to have eight regional conservation authorities as opposed to seven. The Lakehead region conservation authority should continue to be allowed to operate as its own standalone region. It is not in the same watershed as the other conservation authorities that it is being lumped into, despite the political span that the minister is sharing in the legislature.

This is merely a political convenience that it is being grouped into the same region as southern Lake Huron conservation authorities. These are the same conservation authorities that are drawing watersheds from the French river, which come from the Ottawa river. The Lakehead Region conservation Authority is drawing from the watersheds of the Kaminitiqua and the Lake Nipigon watersheds.

As a representative citizen of the thunder base appear north region living in this watershed, I demand that our concerns be heard, and the Lakehead region conservation Authority be allowed to stand as its own conservation authority under the new plan.