I do not agree at all with…

I do not agree at all with the proposed legislation that would re-group Conservation Authorities into larger entities.

The current system based on local watersheds provides that local knowledge and expertise will be brought to bear on the work of the Conservation Authority.

I am a member of my local Conservation Authority, and have been a frequent user of it and of other Conservation Authorities in the province. In my experience they are all doing a wonderful job in the areas of their jurisdiction. This is a case of trying to fix something that isn't broken. In fact, not only is the current system not broken, it's ideal.

I note that the advocacy in favour of redistricting the Conservation Authorities is in part to make the Conservation Authorities more responsive to provincial priorities. I do not want them to be more responsive to provincial priorities. I want them to be responsive to local priorities, to the watershed they are charged with protecting and the local population they are charged with serving.