I am commenting as I am…

I am commenting as I am strongly opposed to the proposal in ERO Notice 025-1257 to amalgamate Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities into seven large, regional bodies.

For more than 75 years, Conservation Authorities have enabled municipalities to work together to reduce flood risk, protect drinking-water sources, steward natural ecosystems, and prepare for extreme weather. Restructuring to crate very large Conservation Authorities dismantles the very model that makes watershed management effective. 

The effectiveness of Conservation Authorities comes from local expertise and governance aligned with watershed boundaries. Decades of local knowledge, monitoring and partnerships cannot be replaced by a distant regional or provincial body and remain effective. This change will worsen water protections, increase flood risk, and put Ontarians at risk.

Strong, locally informed oversight is essential for public safety. Inconsistencies in policies and indicators across Conservation Authorities can be resolved without the suggested major changes to a functioning system. Watershed governance should remain rooted in local realities.