I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my concern and dismay regarding the Ontario proposal to consolidate Conservation Authorities across the province. Tinkering with Authority boundaries is not a new idea, and Conservation Authorities have merged in the recent past (Quinte Conservation). These are, however, well studied decisions that yield positive performance and financial results. The current massive merger does not appear to be well thought out, and I am not aware of any supporting documentation that would indicate improvements to performance or cost effectiveness can be achieved.
Ontario Conservation Authorities are a role model for effective conservation of land and protection of the public. They operate at virtually no cost to the province and follow municipal direction. They provide highly valued green spaces that not only protect our environmental health, but also provide metal and physical health to their communities. They protect the public against natural disasters by regulating development within natural hazard areas, and operating flood forecasting and warning systems with extensive monitoring water and climate monitoring. Conservation Authorities work effectively and efficiently. They are on-the-ground agencies that spend necessary time on the ground collecting information and studying local watersheds.
The 36 Conservation Authorities already work cooperatively together with Working Groups for key program areas such as Regulations, Conservation Area management, and Education. Conservation Ontario is well established to ensure the continued continuity and consistency of the Authorities. Conservation Authorities are frugal and share resources including information and data sharing systems, as well as sharing staff expertise.
While boundaries can always be adjusted (maintaining the watershed approach), this proposed consolidation could result in:
o Greater travel times and reduced efficiency and ability to collect information including information for provincially mandated programs including the Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Program, and Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Program (services that the province gets at no cost).
o Less local watershed knowledge
o Less efficient and more difficult access for residents requiring CA services including permits for work in regulated areas
This reckless plan is likely to reduce services and increase costs.
The only workable solution with the consolidation would be to keep satellite offices to support Conservation Authority functions including Conservation Area management and operation, outdoor education operations, water monitoring and flood forecasting and warning, and planning and regulations. In this case, very little is saved and increased levels of administration are created – reverse efficiency.
Conservation Authorities are formed (and can be dissolved) at the request of their resident municipalities. Municipalities provide members to the Authority Board of Directors to ensure their interests are met. Looking at the list of municipalities in each proposed consolidated Conservation Authority, how would it be possible for each municipality to have a meaningful input with such a massive territory? I live in the City of Kawartha Lakes and the Kawartha Region watershed. I have used the local Conservation Authority Conservation Areas and programs, and have contacted them on occasions where I required regulation assistance. I appreciate having local contacts with staff that know the local watershed. I have no interest in working with someone in an office located hours away, and I know the experience in that case would be much less rewarding.
The notion that the proposed consolidation will achieve the stated goal of “…improving the province’s conservation authority system to help get shovels in the ground faster on homes and other local infrastructure projects, while strengthening the vital role Conservation Authorities play in managing watersheds and protecting communities from floods and natural hazards” is way off base. I don’t know who believes this change will result in that goal, and do not see any supporting analysis. Ontario’s “more homes faster” programs have largely been a failure and by media reports, home building has again slowed. Why keep blaming Conservation Authorities? There is a failure to recognize the current system of urban development driven by private development continually fails society and has caused our housing affordability crisis. The BILD industry posts expensive articles and opinions in news media painting approval processes and agencies as the cause for all problems, and obviously have the ear of the Premier. A responsible government will ignore the whims of private development companies and instead work with all levels of government to build sequentially (no more Minister’s Zoning Orders) and responsibly to provide the ranges of housing that are currently needed. Fix the development system. Don’t fix what ain’t broke. Leave the Conservation Authorities as they are.
Sincerely,