I am an avid user of the…

I am an avid user of the trails on the natural lands of the Hamilton Conservation Authority . I am a member of this organization.

I am very concerned with the proposal to amalgamate the Niagara Conservation Authority, Hamilton Conservation Authority, Halton Region Conservation Authority and Credit Valley Conservation Authority. I believe that the current structure provides important local input and knowledge in decisions made by the individual authorities. The Hamilton Conservation Authority controls significant amount of natural land entrusted to them as a legacy for long term protection, stewardship and public benefit, with the expectation that such lands would be cared for by locally governed conservation authorities.

Unfortunately the current provincial government has a history of not protecting the Green Belt, only walking back when under intense negative public opinion. So why should we think a decision that takes away local control and puts in the hands of a larger organization, remote from the local populace who use and care for the preservation and stewardship of these lands.

The Hamilton Conservation Authority has a Foundation which gathers donations from local individuals and organizations for the benefit of these lands. What will happen to these funds and will decisions as to the use of these funds continue to be locally controlled or handled by the larger organization, not to the benefit of HCA lands?

It is a real concern that decisions over local wetlands, and waterways will not come under the same level of protection after amalgamation as they currently receive by separate conservation authorities.

Existing authorities have membership policies that allow purchasers of a membership to access trails and park for free. Has this been considered? I suppose one pass for entrance to multiple authorities would be nice, but the cost for multiple authorities would likely be cost prohibitive, or not provide sufficient revenue to cover maintenance of trails and other facilities which are relied on my users.

For these reasons I firmly reject the government initiative to amalgamate conservation authorities and instead leave the existing structure in place.