The absence of any financial…

The absence of any financial analysis demonstrating the benefits of consolidation is irresponsible. The Province has provided no cost-benefit analysis, no comparative performance data, and no explanation for why less disruptive alternatives were rejected. Major restructuring of taxpayer-funded bodies should be supported by clear evidence.

As an avid user of Fanshawe Conservation Area, I am particularly concerned that consolidation would slow decision-making and weaken operational effectiveness. As governance becomes more centralized, decision-makers are further removed from local watershed conditions, and institutional knowledge is lost during transition. Larger bureaucracies tend to add approval layers, not remove them. Authorities spanning hundreds of kilometres cannot realistically maintain the site-specific expertise required for timely responses to localized flooding, erosion events, and permitting decisions that depend on local knowledge.

Any consolidation should be justified with demonstrated financial and operational benefits before proceeding. To date, that due diligence has not been shown, falling short of basic standards of fiscal accountability and the principles of transparency required for restructuring taxpayer-funded bodies.