Re-empower Conservation Authorities

Unique to Ontario, conservation authorities holistically manage watersheds to prevent flooding, conserve natural areas and safeguard water quality – all benefitting both people and the environment. This work requires local connections to the communities they serve.

However, a series of changes to their mandate, resourcing and independence have made it harder for conservation authorities to fulfill their crucial role. Among these changes is the provincial government’s plans to consolidate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into seven sprawling regional authorities that would be overseen by a new centralized provincial agency.

If this amalgamation occurs, it becomes far more likely ...

Unique to Ontario, conservation authorities holistically manage watersheds to prevent flooding, conserve natural areas and safeguard water quality – all benefitting both people and the environment. This work requires local connections to the communities they serve.

However, a series of changes to their mandate, resourcing and independence have made it harder for conservation authorities to fulfill their crucial role. Among these changes is the provincial government’s plans to consolidate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into seven sprawling regional authorities that would be overseen by a new centralized provincial agency.

If this amalgamation occurs, it becomes far more likely that critical local knowledge will be excluded from key decisions, leaving communities more exposed to flooding and other environmental harms. With flooding being the costliest natural hazard in Ontario and expected to become an even greater threat in the coming years, this is a trend communities cannot afford.

Join us in calling on Minister McCarthy and your MPP to re-empower conservation authorities. Please customize the email with your own perspective and experiences to maximize its impact.

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Photo: Rockwood Conservation Area © Conservation Ontario

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Conservation Authorities Petition

2,090 emails sent

To:

Hon. Todd J. McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks ([email protected])
Conservation Authority Contact ([email protected])
Your MPP

Find your local rep

Subject:

Dear Minister McCarthy,

Conservation authorities were established as a direct response to flooding and erosion. Decision makers recognized the importance of ensuring conservation authorities were led by local voices and embodied local needs. Unique to Ontario, they play a pivotal role in supporting sustainable community development that allow people and nature to thrive.

Unfortunately, many recent changes have severely undermined conservation authorities’ ability to effectively fulfill this role. The regressive changes include the proposal to consolidate the 36 conservation authorities into just seven that would be overseen by the new centralized provincial agency. That would be compounded with limitations to their mandate, resourcing and independence over the past several years.

These changes could create conditions under which it is far more likely that critical local knowledge will be excluded from key decisions, leaving communities more exposed to flooding and other environmental harms.

Respectfully, I urge you to not proceed with the consolidation. Please meaningfully work with Indigenous communities, municipalities and civil society to empower conservation authorities to use their local expertise to increase our flood resiliency, safeguard our water and conserve our natural areas.

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