It is difficult to comment…

It is difficult to comment on the specific merits of this proposal given the history of the Conservative Governments rabid focus on development. With that background all such efforts to consolidate, streamline etc must be viewed with grave concern as to the true intentions of such realignments.

It would be my assumption that the true goal here is to reduce input and feedback from knowledgeable local conservation authorities with real insights and involvement in managing the local environments they oversee.

It is likely that all efforts need to involve high communication and interconnection between all conservation groups and leaders to ensure successful protection of ecosystems and more. So if the effort is truly aimed at increasing the impact and effectiveness of the 36 authorities, it might make sense to consider ways of incorporating systems that demand joint decision making and communications.

Without clear and demonstrated understanding of why or how this consolidation to 7 regional authorities would improve the efforts my belief is that the system should remain as is. Even a phased approach would be better - moving to say 16-20 Conservation Authorities over a 5 year span would be a more realistic and consultative change management plan.

The bias of the current provincial government is so clearly towards development at any cost, I believe this proposal should not proceed until more a more explicit rationale and articulated benefits of this change are available. In summary The LTVCA and all similar should stay is. Their work demonstrates a high degree of professionalism and excellence so should not be abandoned with this unjustified change.