QUEEN’S PARK – MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to the government announcement that it will be consolidating conservation authorities.
“The government is leaving Ontarians exposed to dangerous flooding—with lives, livelihoods and property at stake.
For decades, conservation authorities have been our first and best line of defence against serious flooding. Now, this government wants to cut them by 63 percent.
Slashing conservation authorities and replacing them with a provincial oversight agency will gut protections for our parks, lakes and rivers. It will result in more job losses. And it will continue this government’s pattern of centralizing power into fewer and fewer hands—undermining local expertise and decision-making.
It seems this government has forgotten the lessons learned from Hurricane Hazel, during which 81 people tragically lost their lives, and nearly 8,000 were left homeless after devastating flooding. It’s tragedies like this that remind us of how important our conservation authorities are.”