Protesters push back against Ontario’s plan to merge conservation authorities

People protesting for the environment were picking a new fight with Ontario Premier Doug Ford today.

They’re accusing Ford of trying again to develop the Greenbelt and other sensitive areas. And they’re promising more protests this month over the government’s plan to reorganize conservation areas that were set up to protect watersheds.

One protester is labeling this month “Fight Ford February.”

In recent years, following protests like these, the premier backed away from plans to build on the Greenbelt. Now demonstrators say Ford is trying again to get at environmentally sensitive land.

“So there is no question what this is about. They want to take away the environmental restrictions that are there to keep our water safe, to keep flooding away,” said Peter Appleton from Save Our Streams Hamilton.

With up to around 80 people, the protest was aimed at protecting Ontario’s conservation authorities which manage watersheds to keep water safe, prevent flooding and give people the chance to experience nature, winter and summer.

The province is proposing major changes to make the authorities more efficient.

The provincial government is working on a plan to reduce the number of conservation authorities across the province from 36 to seven.

Protesters say the real government plan is to build in areas like the Greenbelt.

“All we’re seeing right now is that Doug would like to ram through development and take powers away from the conservation authorities, and there’s no better way to do it than to strip them of their power and bring them all to Queen’s Park,” said Appleton.

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“No one’s developing in our Greenbelt. We tried that and I’ll go to my grave saying there are certain parts of it that you can. But anyways, it’s done. We’re moving forward,” said Ford.

The premier told CHCH News this week he wants to improve the system without the duplication of 36 authorities.

“We’re going to enhance programs, we’re going to work with communities,” said Ford.

Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis, who’s on the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), says some of the authorities are too small to be efficient but he’s hoping the province re-thinks its plan for only seven authorities.

“And in fact, at the GRCA we’re pitching that the ministry reconsider what it’s doing, and maybe go down to 18 or 19 conservation authorities,” said Davis.

Hamilton councillor Brad Clark, chair of the Hamilton Conservation Authority, told councillors this week he’s concerned about the province’s approach.

“We are, to say diplomatically, trepidatious about this proposal. We don’t see any cost savings, we see costs actually increasing. We see a loss of local autonomy,” said Clark.

Protestors say that loss of local autonomy would be significant.

“It’s really important to have local management because local people are the experts in their watershed. They know and they manage it — they prevent flooding,” said one protester.

“Those local connections really matter. And I think that Hamilton deserves accessible outreach between the conservation authority and the community in both directions,” said another protester.

The latest from the province’s Environment and Conservation Minister Todd McCarthy is that consultations are still going on about the authorities.

No final decision has been announced so far on the number of authorities that will come out of the reorganization or the boundaries of the new authorities.

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