Dear All Only recently did…

Dear All

Only recently did I learn about the project of the amalgamation of the Regional Conservation Authorities. I read the Supplement Document, looked at the maps and now I am convinced that this is not a good idea.

There are some arguments presented for the cause (page 5., supplement documents). However, I doubt if the amalgamation will improve anything. Have a look at the arguments:

The problem of watershed-based jurisdictions is the most serious (or maybe the only serious one ) on the list, however, at least in the Southern Ontario the situation seems be under control for many decades, regardless environmental challenges.

Conservation authorities and municipalities – I am convinced, that strong and independent (by law and financially) local conservation authorities will act faster, more efficiently and more economically than the proposed big multilevel administrative behemoth. The Ontario 1995 municipalities amalgamation is a good example of financial ineffectiveness of such programs. Following example shows that if there is something abnormal – like Hamilton sewer affair where the fault was due to city incompetence - the local Conservation Authorities have played positive role in mitigation of the problem. In this case it was the big problem for them to act and resolve. Where as for proposed new large regional body it will be one of many problems may not be resolve so effectively.

Balancing expertise and capacity - the expertise of local Conservation Authorities, which have accumulated experience specific for their regions over decades will be diluted in the bigger organization. If the prompt reaction is needed there will be much longer “chain of command” delaying response. I am afraid it will be more generals the foot solders situation!

Service Continuity – it more or less as the point above. In the emergency situation it is mainly question of protocols to be follow, personnel training to the actual tasks, and authorization to take action (“press the red button”) on operators level, not top management to promptly initiate the process of mitigating situation. I am afraid that the response will be slow down in the unnecessarily long chain of command.

There is very strong argument for keeping Conservation Authorities small, strong and independent – these organizations are powered by enthusiastic people devoted to the cause of conservation of their regions. Do not bypass them or everybody will lose!

Finally, I believe that the action is not necessary. It will create large, expensive, inefficient and politicized bureaucratic bodies. In fact I lost my faith in the provincial level of administration abilities just after I open web page: “This posting was updated on December 9, 2025. The updates included removing the following municipalities from the proposed Huron-Superior Regional Conservation Authority, that were included in error: ... “ INCLUDED IN ERROR??? Is anybody there with any kind of qualifications?

I am suspicious that the propose legislation is the reincarnation of the infamous grab attempt on Greenbelt couple years ago disguised as a system improvement.

Remember also – if something is not broken, do not fix it !

By the way – why on maps discussing hydrological issues rivers are not clearly shown – at least the major one?

Sincerely ...