Premier Ford and MPP Bailey, I am writing to express my serious concerns about Bill 68 and the deeply troubling attempt to slip in a restructuring of Ontario’s Conservation Authorities. Reducing 36 Conservation Authorities down to 7 run by political appointees is not responsible governance. It is an attack on environmental protection in this province. […]
Premier Ford and MPP Bailey,
I am writing to express my serious concerns about Bill 68 and the deeply troubling attempt to slip in a restructuring of Ontario’s Conservation Authorities. Reducing 36 Conservation Authorities down to 7 run by political appointees is not responsible governance. It is an attack on environmental protection in this province.
Ontario’s Conservation Authorities are not political tools. They were created to protect people, land, water and wildlife through science-based decisions, local expertise and long-term stewardship. These are not optional roles. They are essential to flood prevention, watershed health, habitat protection and community safety.
Eliminating local oversight and handing control to a small group of political appointees will cause real harm. Let me be very clear about what this change would do:
• It strips away local knowledge that is vital to understanding each region’s watersheds, floodplains and ecological risks.
• It weakens environmental oversight at a time when climate change is intensifying floods, fires, erosion and extreme weather.
• It gives more power to development interests while removing meaningful accountability.
• It breaks down decades of scientific research, community partnerships and practical on-the-ground experience.
• It puts people and ecosystems at risk, all for the sake of centralized control.
This is not efficiency. This is not good policy. This is a reckless step backward.
Ontario families rely on Conservation Authorities to safeguard drinking water, reduce disaster risk, protect wildlife and maintain healthy natural systems that support our communities. The proposal within Bill 68 undermines that work in a way that is unnecessary, irresponsible and frankly alarming.
Premier Ford and MPP Bailey, I am urging you to take this seriously. Remove the Conservation Authority changes from Bill 68. Stop burying major environmental rollbacks inside unrelated legislation. Commit to strengthening environmental oversight instead of weakening it. Listen to the communities you represent and the scientists who actually understand this work.
Ontario deserves transparent and responsible leadership. Our environment deserves decision-making based on science and respect, not political convenience. This province does not need more attacks on the systems that protect our land, water and future.
I expect a response outlining your position and what actions you intend to take.
Sincerely,
Shaun Antle
Corunna, Ontario
