Amid Ontario’s ongoing amalgamation of all 36 provincial conservation authorities, the NPCA says it is at risk of losing its local voice.
Environment Minister Todd McCarthy said after feedback from residents, the province’s plans have slightly changed – with agencies being merged into nine authorities instead of the previous seven planned. Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority will be folded into the Western Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority alongside Hamilton, Halton, and Credit Valley Conservation Authorities.
Chief Administrative Officer Leilani Lee-Yates says despite Niagara being the largest geographical portion of the new area with the most shoreline, the NPCA has the smallest budget and staff.
“Our programs and services that we provide down here are quite unique to our watershed characteristics and what our communities have been asking for in terms of habitat creation, restoration, our monitoring and our watershed science data that we’re producing. Our education programs, our recreation programs at our 43 parks and the continued management of those properties.” Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority CAO Leilani Lee-Yates.
CAO Lee-Yates is concerned Niagara will lose its local voice amid such a large grouping of conservation authorities.
The transition process to the newly created Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency will begin this summer, and be operational by 2027.
Photo credit: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
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