Hello, I am writing to…

Hello,

I am writing to voice my surprise and anger regarding the merger of our conservation areas.

While I have been happy with other policies this is a dealbreaker as a local resident who enjoys incredible benefits from these areas that cost so little for the Ontario government due to heavy self funding.

As one of the largest areas in Ontario, meeting us with the Huron region, an area far removed from the unique issues our region contends with.

To reference their annual report:

Between 1998 and 2019, Provincial Section 39 Transfer Payments to all 36 Conservation Authorities remained at the same level of $7,400,000. In 2019, mid-way through the budget year, the Provincial Government announced a 48-50% funding cut to all Conservation Authority Section 39 Transfer Payments, effective for the current year. LRCA’s transfer payment was reduced from $292,380 to $150,940, resulting in a funding reduction of 48% ($141,440). This resulted in an emergency mid-year amendment to the budget, which resulted in a cancelation of all planned training, advertising, and capital expenditure spending at Conservation Areas as well as delaying some planned repairs. Funds were reallocated to ensure that the provincially mandated programs were still delivered.

I don’t know a single person who endorses this plan locally and am shocked to see this policy being quietly pushed through over the holidays. Meanwhile handouts are given to unqualified companies through the skilled trade program as well as public subsidies for spas that lie about their funding sources add up to many times the funding we spend on these authorities.

Please reconsider, or we will lose this critical local knowledge, skills, and employment that Northerners will not soon forget.

Respectfully,
A concerned voter