I am deeply concerned that…

I am deeply concerned that an amalgamation will significantly reduce local decision-making and put our natural areas significantly at risk. Northern Ontario is already severely neglected by the provincial government in many ways; reducing the authority of northern communities to manage their own local ecosystems is a questionable decision that I cannot imagine will be effective. Regardless that the new consolidation is intended to align with natural watersheds, watersheds are only one aspect of the diverse and locally significant ecosystems these consolidations are supposed to represent. The proposed Northeastern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority's sheer size would be absolutely ridiculous to attempt to manage together. This is a huge mistake that the next generations of land stewards will be paying for. I am not in support of this amalgamation.