One core job of Conservation…

One core job of Conservation Authorities is flood control. this is on a watershed basis and not just municipality to municipality. The Grand River watershed for example goes from Dundalk to Port Maitland with a large rural and urban population in between. It is a vulnerable watershed and has been prone to flooding. The Grand River Conservation Authority needs the scope to work on a watershed basis with the support of the provincial government, municipalities and rural counties and townships.

The Conservation Authorities were formed and given the mandates they have for very good historical reasons. They require the expertise to operate and the budgets as well.

They need to be part of the decision making voices that impact the watersheds like agricultural run off, urban sprawl, and rapid growth and development. They need to be able to do Tier 3 studies, for example.

Reducing their mandates is a short sighted mistake.