Ontario is blessed with…

Ontario is blessed with extraordinary natural assets—forests, wetlands, meadows, rivers, and the Great Lakes themselves. These landscapes shape our quality of life and draw us outdoors. Much of this natural wealth is cared for by Ontario’s Conservation Authorities.

Established in 1946, Conservation Authorities were an innovative response to widespread environmental degradation. They work at the watershed level, restoring ecosystems, protecting communities from flooding and erosion, and safeguarding drinking water sources. They are Ontario’s environmental experts—and they deliver results.

They operate and maintain 900 dams, dykes, channels, and other erosion control structures along rivers and shorelines valued at $3.8 billion, and manage and own 150,000 hectares of natural areas including 500 conservation areas.

The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail is greatly enhanced thanks to work of Conservation Authorities. l connects to 95 conservation areas and parks managed by Conservation Authorities—places that millions of Ontarians enjoy every year.

The proposed consolidation of Ontario’s Conservation Authorities—reducing 38 local authorities into just seven massive regional bodies would dramatically reshape how our watersheds are managed, often far from the communities they serve.

This is not the first time provincial changes have disrupted Conservation Authorities. In 2023, they were stripped of their ability to provide natural heritage and hydrogeological reviews for municipalities. More recently, Bill 68 created a new oversight agency to direct governance and strategy.

Each change has been framed as a way to improve efficiency. But Conservation Authorities can demonstrate that they already meet or exceed provincial approval timelines. The issue is not performance.

It’s also important to note that the Province is not a major funder of Conservation Authorities. Provincial funding typically accounts for only about 3% of their budgets, with municipalities and user fees carrying most of the cost.

The concerns are clear:

•Proposed regional authorities would be too large to be responsive or effective
•Local knowledge would be lost;
•Decision-making would be pushed farther from communities
•Watershed-based planning would be weakened
•Consolidation of so many local offices will be time consuming and expensive and a drain on Conservation Authorities resources

For example, the proposed Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority would be responsible for 81 municipalities—an area simply too large to manage effectively while remaining locally accountable.

We encourage the Province to strengthen Conservation Authorities without forcing large-scale amalgamations. We recommend that the Province:

•Explain the rationale for change and consult meaningfully with First Nations, municipalities, Conservation Authorities, and stakeholders.
•Improve coordination, not centralization. Do not create an Ontario-wide “super authority.” Instead, properly resource Conservation Ontario to coordinate standards and share best practices.
•Keep Conservation Authorities local and watershed-based. Maintain municipally governed Conservation Authorities, which are best equipped to respond to local conditions and community needs.
•Allow voluntary, not forced, mergers. Create a voluntary merger framework that allows Conservation Authorities to pursue mergers where it makes sense.
•Properly resource and invest in Conservation Authorities to enable them to maintain flooding and erosion protection infrastructure and manage our watersheds.

Ontario’s Conservation Authorities have protected people, land, and water for nearly 80 years. At a time of climate change, flooding, and biodiversity loss, weakening this system puts communities—and the natural places we love—at risk. Strong, healthy watersheds need local stewardship.