I - and most of my…

I - and most of my neighbours here - am opposed to the plan to merge conservation authorities into massive regional bodies, including the Sault Ste. Marie Conservation Authority being revised into a massive Northeastern authority.

This is a nightmare for Northern Ontario, a region that is already lacking in provincial support. Our region is huge, our communities are spread out, and local conditions really matter. Decisions about conservation lands, waterways, and recreation work best when they’re made locally by people who know the area - and depend on it for nearly every aspect of life.

Groups that use conservation lands, like trail and recreation organizations (very high membership here!) , depend on local decision-making and hands on knowledge. A larger authority is likely to slow things down, add more red tape, and make it harder for volunteers and community groups to get things done.

The idea that this will be more “efficient” doesn’t make much sense for Northern Ontario, where distance and geography already make coordination difficult. We residents should have a say in how their local conservation lands are managed and cared for, and that say gets quieter the bigger and more centralized the authority becomes.

Instead of forcing amalgamation, the province should keep existing conservation authorities in Northern Ontario, work with them to improve cooperation where it actually makes sense, and continue funding those taking care of some of the best nature North America has to offer.

Please reconsider this proposal.