Conservation Cuts

Ontario only funds 5-8% of our Conservation Authorities' budgets, so most of their budgets are raised from our municipalities and small fees or fundraisers. How can the province then propose to shrink 36 CAs down to 7 monster ones, and run them from a central committee in Toronto? This excellent article explains that here, across Eastern Ontario, in our hard-working 7 CAs, there are actually 70 municipalities who collaborate on those 7 Boards, to run critical watershed-based work. It seems municipalities will still be expected to fund them, but will no longer be able to have a say in how our tax money will be spent.

The example of MVCA having saved up to replace several older dams, and one in North Frontenac which will cost $6 million, is worrisome. Will the province use that money? Also interesting to note was that the Ottawa River is co-managed already with Quebec, and the St. Lawrence River is co-managed with the USA. Each CA has such different terrain, different flooding situations, and drinking water contamination possibilities. Our CAs are keeping us safe and also running education programs for our children. We should all write the Premier & our MPPs to say no to this loss of municipal voice and our safety at : https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1257 until Dec. 21.