By: Fred Groves, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter

After 53 years, the Essex Regional Conservation Authority (ERCA) is losing its local identity.

In early March, the provincial government announced that it would merge Ontario’s authorities from 36 to nine.

According to Essex MPP Anthony Leardi, it’s an opportunity to speed up the building of new homes faster and reduce any duplication of paperwork.

“It is important to get homes built,” said Leardi.

As part of the ‘Build Homes Faster’ initiative, Leardi noted that, for developers, the merger of the authorities will mean they can receive the same response to their inquiries wherever they decide to build.

However, the decision to merge the conservation authorities is facing pushback from the local board.

“From everything we are seeing, it’s going to slow development significantly, especially at the beginning of that transition period,” said Amherstburg councillor Molly Allaire, who is the chair of ERCA.

Founded in 1973, ERCA is responsible for the long-term conservation of 4,200 acres of natural lands as well as the watersheds of Lake Erie, Detroit River and Lake St. Clair.

There are 19 board members – one from Pelee Island, four from the City of Windsor, and two from each of the seven Essex County municipalities. Besides flood protection, ERCA manages a trail system, has planted seven million trees over the years, and has several conservation areas, such as Hillman Marsh in Leamington and the John R. Park Homestead in Essex.

“The Minister of the Environment says all these core programs will continue,” said Allaire. “How it will be funded, I have no idea.” wondered Allaire.

The Essex Regional Conservation Authority will be merged with three others – Lower Thames Valley, St. Clair Region and Upper Thames River.

According to Allaire, one of the biggest concerns is that local tax dollars collected in Windsor-Essex could be sent to fund projects in those other three areas. She noted in a recent editorial in the Lakeshore News that 53 percent of the ERCA budget comes from taxpayers, 35 percent is self-generated revenue, and the rest from the province. 

“You are losing control of your area. It’s once again the higher level of government coming in, saying don’t worry, we will take care of you, and give us your money.”

Another concern Allaire has is that this merger takes place during a municipal election year, and that some who are now ERCA board members and may become part of the transition group to lead the mergers may not be re-elected. 

She said that the reasons the province wants to merge the authorities are to speed up the process of building, and to update the flood mapping.

“Everything they are asking for, we already do it. When we went to the Minister of Environment, he said ERCA is not the problem. He said we are doing everything right.”