I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my concern regarding Bill 68 and the proposed consolidation of 36 Conservation Authorities into just seven. The Essex Regional Conservation Authority (ERCA) has raised several issues with respect to this legislation. I agree with these concerns. In particular:

1) The proposed region is too large. The new regional conservation authority would span a large geographical area and include 81 municipalities. I believe that such a large area would impair the effectiveness and the responsiveness of the authority for everyone.

2) Local governance will be diluted if 81 municipalities are represented by one Board. Currently, local knowledge and expertise are used to make decisions regarding the management of the watersheds within the 9 local municipalities served by ERCA. Creating a single board with 9 times the existing municipalities will dilute local voices - again, for everyone.

3) Windsor/Essex/Pelee Island faces unique challenges and requires local conservation staff, not centralized governance.

4) As a municipal taxpayer, I embrace the funding of local conservation projects. Under the new regional conservation authority, I am very much concerned that my tax dollars will go to support conservation projects in the larger municipalities of London, Brantford etc., and our smaller Windsor/Essex/Pelee Island projects will be ignored or underfunded.

Please listen to the concerns raised by ERCA. I agree wholeheartedly with these concerns and do not support the consolidation of the conservation authorities under Bill 68.