We have serious concerns…

We have serious concerns about the government’s proposal to merge Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into just 7 larger bodies. We believe it will undermine local watershed management, weaken flood protection, and reduce accountability to communities.
Conservation Authorities operate on a local watershed model, recognizing that water and ecosystems do not follow municipal boundaries. They are able to provide in-depth local environmental expertise and understanding of the waterways within their area, and share that information and analysis with communities. They are responsible for protecting drinking water sources, monitoring water levels and carrying out restoration work. On behalf of municipalities, they also decide whether development can happen in areas prone to natural hazards.

“Flooding is considered the most significant natural hazard in Ontario in terms of death, damage and civil
disruption and is the costliest type of natural disaster in Canada in terms of property damage.” (Protecting People and Property: Ontario’s Flooding Strategy 2020, Hon. John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry)

Amalgamation into large regional bodies would erode this model, forcing each Conservation Authority to manage much larger and more complicated watersheds which will make it harder to address flooding, erosion, and water quality issues where they actually occur. The current model works because conservation authorities enforce provincial rules while staying accountable to municipalities. Under the new model local expertise, decision making and accountability to communities would be weakened.
The current authorities are better positioned to protect unique local habitats and species. A one-size-fits-all regional approach may overlook ecological nuances, leading to poorer outcomes for biodiversity conservation. Larger bureaucracies may create delays and confusion in responding to urgent environmental challenges such as floods or invasive species outbreaks.
The Ford government has framed amalgamation as a way to speed up development approvals but there is no evidence that merging conservation authorities would reduce the administrative burden. Worryingly, this could prioritize construction over ecological safeguards, increasing risks of flooding, habitat loss, and degraded water quality. Conservation authorities in the current model are not a barrier to development, but help prevent mistakes by mapping floodplains and identifying hazards.

“Municipalities and conservation authorities are central to the success of local flood management, having distinct delegated roles from the province along with legislated and regulatory responsibilities to ensure new development is directed away from natural hazards.” (Protecting People and Property: Ontario’s Flooding Strategy 2020, Hon. John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry)

We ask that the government withdraw the proposal to amalgamate and consult with conservation authorities to further the province’s goals of efficiency, service modernization and fiscal responsibility.