I am strongly opposed to the…

I am strongly opposed to the government’s proposal to consolidate Ontario’s 36 local Conservation Authorities down to just seven regional authorities under a centralized agency. This change threatens to remove the local knowledge, context-specific expertise, and community accountability that make these watershed-based organizations effective at protecting land, water, and public safety.

Local conservation authorities were created under the Conservation Authorities Act to serve individual watersheds and are governed by boards of municipal representatives who understand their communities and environments firsthand. They play a critical role in flood protection, watershed health, sustainable development reviews, and ecological stewardship – work that cannot be standardized from a distant headquarters without losing important local nuance and responsiveness.

While proponents argue that consolidation will improve efficiency and consistency, many municipal councils and authorities have publicly opposed these changes, citing concerns about lost local control, lack of evidence that consolidation will improve outcomes, and minimal provincial funding commitments. Halton, Peel, Kawartha Lakes and other local bodies have raised the alarm that amalgamation could reduce accountability, increase bureaucracy, and weaken environmental protection instead of strengthening it.

Ontario’s watersheds, natural systems, and local landscapes vary dramatically across regions. This diversity requires localized expertise and decision-making tailored to individual watershed conditions. Centralizing authority risks homogenizing policy and service delivery in ways that do not reflect local ecological realities or community priorities, this is a step backward for conservation, land-use planning, and climate resilience.

I urge the government to withdraw this proposal, engage in meaningful consultation with municipalities, Indigenous communities, environmental experts and the public, and instead invest in strengthening the existing conservation authority system so it can continue to protect our unique local environments effectively.