The Conservative government…

The Conservative government’s ill-advised proposal to merge 36 Conservation Authorities into seven bodies is poorly thought out and will result in a number of negative outcomes for the people of Ontario.

Conservation authorities are responsible for many things including the provision of incredibly valuable local information regarding natural hazards – and formerly the natural environment as well. Their role in both preserving our environment and providing education and awareness for the public is irreplaceable. In addition, they provide important advice to prevent bad development decisions from being made that would otherwise put life and property at risk.

I regularly interact with our local Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority in both a personal and professional capacity. They are a tremendous resource in both areas, and they are foundational in the local area for the provision of enforcement, accurate information, and programming.

I urge you to rethink the rash and foolish decision to eliminate our local conservation authorities in favour of an amalgamated model that will surely result in a loss of service to the public, to landowners, and to future generations.