I do not support the…

I do not support the proposal to consolidate Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities into seven regional agencies. There is absolutely no evidence that this is necessary, nor that it would be beneficial to the province and the environment. This consolidation would only serve to weaken and dilute local, watershed level protections and stewardship. Local decision-making needs to be maintained, where focus can remain on the best interest of the communities and watershed they represent. Do not continue to strip them of the power to do their job!
Any notions of “efficiencies” that this merger would support are vague and wildly out of touch. This could only make things more complicated and water down local knowledge and expertise for evidence-based decision-making.
The variety of Species at Risk and the challenges they face differ greatly throughout Ontario, making localized action essential. Over many years, conservation authorities have established strong, community-based relationships with municipalities, local organizations, landowners, volunteers, charitable foundations, and Indigenous partners. Given Ontario’s vast size and geographical diversity, merging conservation authorities would be impractical and could undermine efforts to address the unique risks in each area. I believe it is important to ensure that decisions about conservation remain anchored within our local communities.
Instead of merging the entire system, please listen to the experts at HCA and their suggestions for Ontario to achieve better results:
• Setting clear, consistent provincial standards across all conservation authorities, and holding everyone accountable to them.
• Investing in shared technology, such as the provincial permitting portal, within the current structure.
• Providing stable provincial funding to strengthen core programs and modernize operations.
• Working directly with municipalities, Indigenous partners, conservation authorities, and residents before making any major changes.
I strongly oppose this proposal.