The proposed consolidation…

The proposed consolidation of conservation authorities into seven zones governed by a single board appointed by Cabinet and chaired by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks under Schedule 3 of Bill 68 is not only unnecessary but a costly and ineffective method to protect my local watershed, provide flood control and promote conservation efforts. Currently permitting is done in a timely fashion according to provincial guidelines and the government has already changed governing regulations.

The established local conservation authorities have valuable expertise, knowledge and relationships that will be comprised or worse lost entirely by the huge boundaries the government is proposing. Local conservation authorities are able to respond in a timely and effective manner to local emergencies. Ensuring water quality and flood control are ever more critical with extreme weather events. You are putting all of this at risk. Also, you are once again limiting community input. The local conservation authorities own and/or manage significant local acreage. Decisions about these lands should remain in the communities that use and care for them.

We have been here before with government restructuring - centralization often cost more and is less effective. If in fact all of this is just about faster permitting which I understand is not an issue, the proposed structure risks the opposite creating bottlenecks and lack of access to the needed local technical expertise.

It has come to my attention that the local conservation authorities have a unique funding model with only 2% coming from the provincial government which begs the question how are these changes being funded? I live in a small community with exceptionally high property taxes as it is and do not want more provincial downloading.

You have already curtailed the role and jurisdiction of our conservation authorities. The current organization structure works and they play a critical role at the local level. Leave it alone .