Public Comment — Opposition…

Public Comment — Opposition to Proposed Regional Consolidation of Conservation Authorities

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback.

While improving consistency and efficiency in Ontario’s conservation authority system is a worthwhile goal, I do not support the proposed consolidation of 36 conservation authorities into seven regional bodies. The restructuring risks weakening, rather than strengthening, watershed protection and public safety.

Conservation authorities are effective because they are rooted in local hydrology, community relationships, and decades of on-the-ground knowledge. Larger regional authorities may overlook smaller watersheds, apply standardized policies that don’t reflect local risks, and reduce responsiveness to residents, municipalities, farmers, and Indigenous communities.

There is also significant transition risk. Consolidation will require major organizational, staffing, governance, IT, regulatory, and service changes — during a period of increasing flooding, erosion, climate impacts, and development pressures. No evidence has been provided that this process will improve permitting timelines or emergency response. Likewise, promised cost savings have not been supported by financial analysis, and large mergers often increase long-term administrative costs.

Finally, reducing the number of boards risks diminishing municipal and community representation, weakening democratic accountability over land-use and hazard decisions that directly affect local safety and infrastructure.

Many stated goals — consistency, transparency, improved permitting, shared expertise, standardized policies — can be achieved without eliminating existing conservation authorities. Province-wide service standards, shared tools, coordinated training, and clear oversight would offer benefits without disrupting the system.

For these reasons, I urge the government to pause consolidation and pursue targeted improvements that strengthen — rather than centralize — Ontario’s watershed management system.