It seems the new Minister of Natural Resources is willing to work with conservation authorities. Chair of the Saugeen Conservation Authority, Doug Freiburger says Minister Donna Cansfield is in favour of meeting and talking with various conservation authorities and with Conservation Ontario. Freiburger says it looks like the conservation authority could have a better ministry to work with — Cansfield seems to be trying to build bridges. He says this was the opposite with former MNR minister David Ramsey, who would not deal with the conservation authority on any issue. Freiburger hopes that with this close working relationship, they will be able to obtain more funding for core programs. However Freiburger doesn’t believe the province will be in favour of uploading some of the costs and programs that were previously downloaded. He says the province only seems to be trying to bolster its appearance and profile with the public.
