As an expert in the field of…

As an expert in the field of environmental governance and a resident of Ontario, I vehemently oppose this proposition. This proposition to consolidate conservation authorities is evidently a proposition to centralize and facilitate the fast-tracking of industrial development. Time and time again the Ford government has shown that their priorities lie in supporting developer requests over environmental considerations.

The proposed merger is entirely inappropriate due to the scale of the proposed areas and would create a more distant bureaucracy that is less responsive to local municipalities, developers and farmers alike. This proposal would centralize and decontextualize conservation authorities and governance structures, creating a system that is more detached and more removed from the land. This governement ought not forget that the reliance on the health of the land for the health of human communities. Care for the constituency of this government ought to be their priority, not the interests of developers. The conservation of what little ecologically intact areas remain in Ontario should be a major priority of this government. It is the responsibility of this governement to care for the lands and waters that we Ontarians call home. In addition to their mandates of ecological conservation, conservation authorities must work with local farmers. We all rely on the health of the environment to grow the food which feeds us Ontarians and so many others beyond our province.

Given the localized and hyper-specific environmental context the current conservation authorities govern, the proposed amalgamation is ecologically inappropriate. For example, the proposed Huron-Superior conservation authority would bring together seven authorities spanning roughly 1,400 kilometres and 78 municipalities from Thunder Bay, on Lake Superior through Bruce, Grey and Dufferin Counties, Simcoe County, York Region, Kawartha Lakes and Durham Region. This regions spans numerous ecological communities, different human communities, different governance approaches and priorities. The governance approach of a centralized conservation authority would not be equipped to adequately address the needs of those within the proposed area.

This proposal, which is immensely short sighted, proposes further damaging the environment in the interest of short term economic gain. I implore this government to listen to the voices of those who have voiced their strong opposition by all those who have made their life's work in the field of conservation.