These changes threaten…

These changes threaten environmental protections by degrading local connections to the land. Some improvements should be made to the currents systems, but amalgamation is the wrong direction. Ontarians deserve to have people with a deep understanding, appreciation and connection with the local environment focusing on their local environmental programs. The consolidation of the Ontario conservation authorities into fewer conservation authority jurisdictions will not help these authorities assist their jurisdictions more effectively. These conservation authorities have expertise within their boundaries and plan to spend money from taxpayers efficiently and provide services that their municipalities call for. Widening these boundaries will not make spending in these areas more efficient , it will only create more red tape for these conservation authorities - and will create a further divide between our governing systems and the people they serve. Many of these authorities have jurisdictionally sensitive species and management areas that may be overlooked if the scope of budgets are widened. I would like to see a plan that details how amalgamating these jurisdictions will be more effective for conservation than before. No plans have been put in place to help concerned citizens understand these changes, and I fear these changes will simply put profit over people and make the destruction of crucial habitat easier. So many environmental and charitable groups partner with CA's and look to them for guidance on local stewardship. These changes would have a much, much wider impact than just CA's.