The following report was presented to the Parliamentary Assistant to the Finance Minister, MPP Dave Smith, and MPP Tyler Allsopp. This presentation had a 3minute time restriction.
I am Dr. Elizabeth Churcher, Corresponding Secretary of Quinte Field Naturalists, representing 188 members, 266 QFN friends, and 24 project advocates. (Total of 478)
Quinte Field Naturalists recommend that the 2026 budget include a substantial investment in:
- the conservation of wetlands, with an emphasis on preservation of existing wetlands
- the protection of species at risk, emphasizing habitat conservation
- the empowerment of local Conservation Authority experts
People in the Quinte Region experience firsthand the value of many wetlands and the diversity of life. Southern Ontario has lost 70% of its wetlands. Wetlands are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems and provide a disproportionately high number of ecosystem services, such as water purification, flood mitigation, and carbon storage. With a potential increase in flooding due to climate change, existing wetlands which serve as free and effective infrastructure for flood mitigation must be conserved.
Wetland ecosystems and all other ecosystems require a complex web of life to function. Every species, including the 270 species at risk in Ontario, has a role to play: the removal of one species can result in entire ecosystems collapsing. Each species lost makes the system more fragile, decreasing its ability to provide services such as water purification, pollination and pest control. Ontario’s economy and health depend upon these free services. The government needs to commit to conserving habitat for all species.
Empowering local Conservation Authorities who are familiar with local watersheds and have had experience managing floods and natural hazards would be a great benefit in keeping properties and people safe. The government needs to restore the funding and authority of the 36 Conservation Authorities across Ontario and to do a full assessment of the budgetary needs to meet their responsibilities.
Our specific 2026 Budget Recommendations are as follows: - Ontario commit $21 million to wetland conservation,
- An additional $17 million to species at risk recovery and conservation,
- And an increase of $10 million to Conservation Authorities to meet the increasing challenge of natural hazards.
Further, we recommend that the government commit to these annual investments for the next four years, at a minimum, to protect and restore nature for the benefit of all of us.
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