As a resident of Thunder Bay…

As a resident of Thunder Bay and an employee of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA), I am OPPOSED to the Province’s proposed amalgamation of the LRCA with six other Southern Ontario Conservation Authorities to form the “Huron-Superior Regional Conservation Authority”. Given the great distance of 1,500 kilometers from other southern Ontario Municipalities, there is no watershed or municipal connection.

My concerns are for fragmented communication, loss of representation, and limited prioritization of regional issues and community-specific priorities. Amalgamation would combine the LRCA’s eight-member municipalities with 72 additional municipalities in Southern Ontario, leaving limited local representation at the board level. Furthermore, such an amalgamation could result in reduced local control over budgets and levies imposed on member municipalities.

Additionally, I am concerned that amalgamation could result in delays in decision-making and local permitting, potentially increasing both wait times and costs for permits. Under the current Development Regulations program, LRCA staff typically issue permits within an average of five days. Following amalgamation, it is anticipated that permit processing times and associated fees could increase substantially. These changes could not only slow service delivery but may also contribute to a higher incidence of infractions, regulatory violations, and legal fees.

Rather than amalgamating the LRCA into the “Huron-Superior Regional Conservation Authority”, I support LRCA’s recommendation that the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority form a stand-alone regional Conservation Authority as the “Northwestern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority”. With confidence, I can say that the LRCA, or proposed “Northwester Ontario Regional Conservation Authority”, has the ability to continue to serve our watershed as a standalone Conservation Authority under the direction of the new Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency. Avoid the potentially high transition costs and allow the LRCA to continue to succeed and grow as it has over the past 70 years of committed service to our watershed residents.