I oppose the decision of the…

I oppose the decision of the Ontario government to consolidate the existing conservation authorities into 7 regional areas and to create a centralized organization. I am a long time resident of an area served by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and have accessed many services provided by the GRCA.

The GRCA is run by a board of 25 directors who represent all of the local communities that the GRCA serves. So it's local governance that would be dissolved. https://www.grandriver.ca/who-we-are/governance/grca-board-of-directors/

The minister says that there will be no job lost but staff will be redeployed. Does the Minister really think all of the CEOs of Conservation Authorities will be redeployed to front line positions? The CEO of the GRCA has an degree in Environmental Studies from UofWaterloo, and two Master's degrees including public administration. https://www.grandriver.ca/news/posts/samantha-lawson-named-new-cao-of-t… This is not a person who is going to go to a front line position - the government is going to drive all of the highly talented CEOs out and gut what is left of organizations that have worked for many years to serve the needs of their community. It is NOT conservation authorities that are causing the government to not meet its housing targets. It is the current economic uncertainty, interest rates and rising costs of living and construction that are limiting the ability of developers to build housing that the average Ontario family can afford.

I can only hope that there is a strong backlash similar to the Green Belt fiasco that forces the Ford government to backtrack on this proposal to undermine local control.