NVCA cuts put watershed at risk

Editor:
Are you old enough to remember Hurricane Hazel? The legendary storm killed 81 people in Canada and popularized a commitment to Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities (CAs).
Decades of tree clearing had created extensive flooding problems so the CAs were established in 1946. The mandate of the CAs was to work with municipalities in the best interest of the local watershed.
Over the years CAs established programs for flood control, water quality monitoring and improvement, water resource protection, trail development and outdoor recreational opportunities, community group support, and more.
With municipal representation and long-term vision, programs were locally defined and outside the sphere of contemporary politics.
Today, the Ford government appears to have forgotten the lessons of the past. In April, the province cut funding to the CAs by 50 per cent.
Last Friday, the Province ordered the CAs to wind down non-essential programs without consultation or taking unique watershed characteristics into account.
Clearview Township and Wasaga Beach fall under the jurisdiction of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA).
The NVCA’s Chairperson, a Councillor from Wasaga Beach, George Watson, is on record supporting recommendations to dissolve the NVCA.
How can Mr. Watson advocate for the NVCA and critical programs while he works as a Councillor to undermine the organization? This is an obvious conflict of interest.
With the province’s attack on the CAs to favour industry and developers, and without strong long-term CA management and vision, our watershed is being put at risk.
Donna Baylis,
Dunedin.