As a Hamilton birder and…

As a Hamilton birder and nature enthusiast, who is concerned about conserving and protecting our remaining natural land, I completely agree with the Hamilton Conservation Authority’s statement on why they do not support this proposal. The government of Ontario has not provided enough evidence to justify why this is necessary. Local decision making will no longer be local. Mergers and amalgamations are always expensive, how is this being funded? The HCA is already efficient and reliable. Conservation should be managed hands-on at a local level, not from a distance.
And finally, they note that the government’s proposal is not very detailed. As the HCA mentions “Governance, costs, timing, staffing, land management, branding, and community impact have not been explained, which leaves the potential effects of the merger uncertain”
I hope instead, you will consider their alternate proposal, rather than risk damaging the natural land we have left with this unnecessary merger.
“ Instead of merging the entire system, we believe Ontario can achieve better results by:
Setting clear, consistent provincial standards across all conservation authorities, and holding everyone accountable to them.
Investing in shared technology, such as the provincial permitting portal, within the current structure.
Providing stable provincial funding to strengthen core programs and modernize operations.
Working directly with municipalities, Indigenous partners, conservation authorities, and residents before making any major changes.”