I am submitting this with…

I am submitting this with some concern about the proposed amalgamation of our 36 Conservation Authorities down to 7.

Our CAs were formed in 1946 by a Conservative government because of concerns raised in the farming, naturalist and sporting communities that poor logging practices, water and land use practices were destroying the natural environment we all depend on. Drought and deforestation had led to extensive soil loss and flooding. After the devastation of Hurricane Hazel in 1954, Conservation Authorities were given more powers to protect us from deadly floods.
Our CAs monitor and regulate proposed development on waterways, wetlands, and flood plains. And contrary to popular belief among some, they do not regularly turn down proposals. They work with developers to mitigate risks.

However, their work has been seriously weakened by changes the province has already made in the last six years. Those changes have included reducing conservation authorities’ influence over development, weakening their ability to protect water quality and wetlands and seeing their decisions overruled by the minister involved.

Despite all of this, CAs across the province have been working hard to improve their permitting systems. Many now meet or exceed provincial requirements.

Some amalgamations have occurred in the past, usually led by the local municipalities and authorities involved. While there might be room for a little more amalgamation, for the most part our CAs are doing local work and they need to remain local. They know the typography and hydrology of their areas and those systems vary greatly from one area to another. The needs and concerns in Oshawa or Whitby, on Lake Ontario, are nothing like the needs and concerns in Kawartha Lakes, along the Trent Canal. Water moves differently through different landscapes with different geography and development levels. And flood risks vary accordingly.

Our local municipalities will feel the brunt of weaker protections, and bear the costs of both short and long-term damage. The new proposed amalgamation doesn’t appear to come with any increase in provincial funding, but it would increase costs. And it would certainly come with weaker local input and weaker ability to meet local needs.

We don’t need another level of bureaucracy, far removed from the needs of the people. And we don’t need to be building homes in conservation areas. Those areas are for the people of Ontario, their enjoyment and their safety. There are plenty of areas already serviced that could provide more affordable housing, which we desperately need.

Things the government could do within the existing CA structure:
• Invest in shared technology like the provincial permitting portal
• Set provincial standards that are clear and consistent across all CAs
• Provide stable provincial funding to strengthen core programs and modernize operations
• Work with our municipalities, CAs and Indigenous communities before making major changes
• Let any amalgamations be led locally if those local governments feel amalgamation would be beneficial