re: ERO #025-1257: I believe…

re: ERO #025-1257:
I believe that I have standing to comment on this proposal as a resident of Dundas in the City of Hamilton, a user of Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA)’s membership pass program for at least the past six years and a regular user of several of the HCA’s land and water resources.

I reject the case for regional consolidation outlined in this proposal and support HCA’s position, the remarks that it has submitted in opposition to the outlined proposal and its suggested light touch alternative proposals to strengthen the present system of devolved conservation.

I do so because I believe that the Province has not made a strong evidence-based case for regional consolidation nor has it provided detail of the amalgamation procedure or of the funding that will be required from which a judgement of the viability of this proposal or its value can be made. Mergers come at a cost that must be justified.

I strongly believe that the present, devolved structure of conservation authorities continues to be effective in providing local oversight, regulation decision-making and outcomes within presently organised, local, watershed boundaries.

I urge the Province to step back and shelve this proposal; focussing instead on improving harmonisation of standards, processes, targets and IT systems across the present conservation authorities and to direct provincial funding in support of these measures to conservation authorities rather than in an expensive and unnecessary merger.