Re: Environmental Registry…

Re: Environmental Registry of Ontario – Bill 68: Proposed Consolidation of Conservation Authorities

I am writing as a Director, on behalf of the Board and membership of the Wildwood Sailing Club, St Marys ON, to express concern regarding the Government of Ontario’s proposal to consolidate conservation authorities into seven regional agencies under a centralized governance model.

While we understand the intent is to improve efficiency, we believe this proposal risks eroding local governance and weakening the ability of conservation authorities to appropriately value and support community-based recreational uses.

Wildwood Sailing Club is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit corporation that since 1967 has provided accessible, high-quality recreational opportunities on Wildwood Lake near St Marys, for anyone within our wider community. We have members from the immediate area and as far away as Kitchener, Woodstock and London. Organizations like ours play an important public role: promoting outdoor activity, environmental stewardship, skill development, and social connection, at little cost to government and with significant community benefit.

Under the current local board structure, there is an avenue for dialogue and influence. Local decision-makers understand regional conditions, long-standing community relationships, and the practical implications of decisions related to land use, water levels, and lease terms. This local understanding allows conservation objectives to be balanced with responsible affordable recreational use.

Our concern is that a centralized authority, operating at greater distance from local communities, will be less equipped to appreciate these nuances. Our perception and experience is that recreation is already considered secondary to flood management and public safety. The loss of local governance risks further devaluing community-based recreation through standardized policies, reduced consultation, and decisions made at distance without sufficient local understanding or context.

For small, volunteer-run not-for-profits, even incremental changes in costs or operating conditions can threaten our long-term viability. The unintended consequence of greater centralization may be the loss of exactly the kinds of local organizations that quietly deliver meaningful public benefit and foster community connection to Ontario’s natural spaces.

We respectfully urge the government to reconsider the scale and structure of the proposed consolidation, or at minimum to embed strong protections for local input, local representation, and the recognition of not-for-profit recreational organizations as valuable community partners. Conservation works best when it remains grounded in place and informed by local knowledge. Weakening that connection risks harm to both communities and the amenities that conservation authorities are meant to protect.

Richard Green
Information Officer
Wildwood Sailing Club