Hello, I am writing to…

Hello,

I am writing to express my deep concern and frustration with the recent proposal to reduce the number of conservation authorities in Ontario from 36 to 7. Such a significant change to how our province manages land and water resources appears to have emerged with little warning and only a very brief period of public consultation. It is difficult to understand how a decision of this magnitude is being advanced so quickly and with so little public engagement.

This proposed, significantly diluted land and water management structure seems ill-equipped to responsibly oversee a region that is home to well over a quarter of Canada’s population—particularly at a time when climate change is placing increasing importance on the need for science-based, thoughtful land-use planning. When did Ontario’s world-class, watershed-based conservation model become a problem? These organizations have demonstrated their value time and again by guiding development in ways that protect communities from flooding, preserve valuable farmland and natural areas, and maintain the health of the waterways that originate within these watersheds.

By dramatically enlarging management areas, we risk losing vital local governance and expertise. Decision-making will likely become slower and less effective, and the environment, our waterways, and the communities that depend on them will be less well protected as a result.

When I consider the many negative consequences of this proposed amalgamation, the only rationale that seems apparent is an attempt to weaken the effectiveness of the current system in order to allow for more reckless, unimpeded urban development. Conservation authorities have played a critical role in ensuring that development decisions in much of Ontario are made wisely. Areas deemed unsuitable for development have been protected for good reason—benefiting both the people of Ontario and the natural environment.

We should not undermine these essential safeguards for sustainable living in the name of a short-term solution to the current housing shortage. I urge you to reconsider this proposal and reflect on the costly consequences of past ill-advised decisions, such as those surrounding the Toronto Greenbelt.

Thank you for your time and consideration.