The powers of the…

The powers of the Conservation Authorities have been dangerously eroded by the provincial government. This current amalgamation proposal will reduce their powers further placing the people and environment at high risk of disasters, with potential for pollution entering our waters used for sustaining life and recreation. This merger will put the health and safety of all of Ontarians at risk. We are gravely concerned that the amalgamation risks public safety. There are several examples of amalgamations which leaves the concerns of small local areas unheard and therefore vital issues not dealt with. This is dangerous.

• Schedule 2 of Bill 23 must be reconsidered and Conservation Authorities participation and influence in the planning process be reinstated. This will help ensure the best decisions for the people of Ontario.
• The amalgamation will be costly. Conservation Authorities are currently underfunded. They should be allow or mandated to review and comment on ALL development proposals and charge a fee for the service.
• Amalgamating Conservation Authorities will require staffing changes which will delay important projects in progress, this delay may put communities in danger. The training time for these positions will be significant.
• Reinstating public consultations that were removed in Bill 23 will help the proposed larger Conservation Authorities make more informed decisions.
• This will be expensive to implement. Rebranding alone will be costly, taxpayers are all ready stretched financially. The food banks are experiencing the highest numbers of users recorded and donations are down. Rent is also record high and as well as homelessness. Why should their taxes pay for this unnecessary and dangerous plan? Redirect this money to education, health and social services. The only winners with this plan will be developers, industry, and miners the losers are the people of Ontario who will be endangered.
• Multiply by many times the amount of water testing locations and scope of testing to provide more solid science for the government overseers who are making decisions without a science background or familiar with local issues.
• The TRCA is currently underfunded, several sites require serious maintenance activities including the very important and popular Black Creek Village, the Kortright Centre requires sewer connections and the Claireville Dam on the Humber River has a large crack in it that if not fixed puts everyone downstream at risk of a serious disaster if the damn should brake. Perhaps the Ontario Government should focus on funding these issues rather than the amalgamation.
• Although requested by the City of Toronto, the Provincial government has not contributed financially to the Rockcliffe Riverine Flood Mitigation Project. This is the worst flooded area in the GTA and the water in Black Creek is the most polluted. This one project alone leaves us questioning whether the Provincial government should take charge of any environmental issues. Leave the Conservation Authorities as they are. Improvements can be made without implementing this amalgamation plan.
• Ontario’s Conservation Authorities are world renowned and provide outstanding education and experiences to all ages. Science shows that it is good for people’s mental and physical health. These are all best managed by local people who know the area well. That may be lost with the vast boundaries that are proposed with this amalgamation plan.