I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my concern about the provincial government’s proposal to amalgamate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into seven large regional bodies under a new Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency. While the stated intent is to streamline permitting and improve efficiency, this plan raises serious questions about local representation, accountability, and environmental stewardship.
The Catfish Creek Conservation Authority (CCCA), which serves our community, has voiced strong opposition to this proposal. At its November board meeting, CCCA General Manager Dusty Underhill noted that under the proposed structure, municipalities like Aylmer would likely have little influence within the new “super authorities.” The Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority, which would encompass CCCA along with Grand River, Upper Thames, Essex, Kettle Creek and Long Point Region, is projected to cover approximately 40% of Southwestern Ontario—a vast area with diverse watershed needs.
Key concerns include:
Loss of local representation and accountability to ratepayers
Potential for increased costs to be downloaded to municipalities
Creation of a distant bureaucracy less responsive to local needs of residents, farmers, and developers
Risk of losing essential local environmental expertise and watershed-specific knowledge
I have personally experienced the negative impacts of amalgamation in another context: the merger of our local Elgin County school board into the large Thames Valley District School Board. Since that amalgamation, decisions often seem to favor the City of London over rural counties. We lost local voices at the board level and, during the current provincial takeover we have lost the voice of our local trustees. This experience illustrates how amalgamation can erode local representation and accountability—issues that are equally critical for conservation authorities.

Conservation authorities play a critical role in flood prevention, habitat protection, and climate resilience. Diluting local input could have long-term consequences for our community and environment.

I respectfully ask that you reconsider this plan to allow strong local representation and expertise in conservation governance to continue.