Regarding the amalgamation…

Regarding the amalgamation of local Conservation Authorities into Regional Conservation Authorities. The government’s stated goal is to improve the conservation authority system.

The province claims this action will reduce red tape. This does not seem true. The creation of the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) only adds to further levels of bureaucracy.

The province claims this action will get “shovels in the ground faster”. Local groups such as the Home Builders Association and Heavy Construction Association do not seem to share the government’s view that these changes will help with this target. Based on feedback from these groups, they are happy with the service from their local conservation authority (Essex Region CA) and any change in boundaries to increase the size of the conservation area threatens to decline service levels.

Further, standardizing fees will likely raise the cost of permitting fees for local builders, landowners, and farmers where fees are lower to reflect local economic conditions, not GTA economic conditions.

The province claims the funding for conservation authorities will not change. With the ability for the OPCA to download their cost of operations to conservation authorities, there will be less dollars for funding front-line programs at the local level.

Finally, the proposed boundaries do follow watershed boundaries, but the logic that defines their amalgamated entirety only seems to be creating something “big”. This is the opposite of the logic for local watersheds, local needs, local funding, local representation, local jobs, local programs, all of which serve local ratepayers, industry, and stakeholders better. For all these reasons, smaller more localized units will deliver better results.

There is room for improvement for increased front line program delivery and standardized service levels.

Keep conservation local.