From Ontario Nature:

Join us in calling on Minister McCarthy and your MPP to re-empower conservation authorities and sign our petition:

https://ontarionature.good.do/conservation-authorities/petition/

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.

Conservation authorities also prevent over $150 million in flood damage and disruptions each year.

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 consolidation 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.

Talking points toolkit to Speak up to Re-empower Conservation Authorities: https://catalog.ontarionature.org/empower-conservation-authorities/page/1