The consolidation of the…

The consolidation of the Conservation Authorities should not go forward and decision-making should remain local to the area. There would be several negative impacts of this bill.

You would lose or weaken the input and decision-making of local expertise that know the geographical variations of complex wetland systems, local ecosystems and local climate. This bill also places decision-making in a provincial body while the conservation authorities still get primarily funded by municipalities.

This bill appears to be a way for developers to push through unneeded and unwanted developments that would minimize environmental protections. There is already sufficient land available to address the housing shortage. We do not need further sprawl of high-priced houses and the paving over of wetlands. This is short-sighted and prioritizes the short-term profits of a few over the needs of the majority. We need to protect our wetlands, keep farmland to feed ourselves in the future and use our natural areas as part of the climate adaptation measures in the current climate crisis we are in. There are many studies that demonstrate that invest in climate adaptation is cost effective and ultimately protects the economy. This bill is a step in the opposite direction.