The existing Conservation…

The existing Conservation Authority (CA) system—comprised of 36 distinct Conservation Authorities operating collaboratively through Conservation Ontario—is a proven, effective, and internationally respected model of watershed-based environmental management. It delivers critical programs related to flood and erosion control, water quality protection, low water response, drinking water source protection, conservation lands management, and ecological restoration. These outcomes are achieved through local decision-making, region-specific expertise, and direct, on-the-ground program delivery. This system works.

The provincial proposal to consolidate 36 Conservation Authorities into just 7 regional entities represents a significant and unnecessary restructuring that introduces substantial risk. Despite claims that local programs and autonomy would be maintained, such assurances are neither realistic nor credible given the scale of consolidation being proposed. Downsizing Conservation Authorities at this magnitude will create a cascading, trickle-down effect across environmental protection, land-use planning, and municipal service delivery. The consequences will be felt across multiple regions and municipalities, weakening protections that communities rely on.

This proposal is particularly concerning in the context of the Province’s stated priority to accelerate housing development and reduce regulatory barriers. While increasing housing supply is an important objective, framing environmental safeguards as “red tape” fundamentally misunderstands their purpose. Conservation Authority review processes exist to manage flood risk, protect drinking water, prevent environmental degradation, and ensure development occurs in safe and appropriate locations. Undermining these safeguards through consolidation will not improve efficiency—it will increase risk, create delays, and shift long-term costs onto municipalities and residents.

Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities already deliver efficient, consistent, and reliable services. Where inconsistencies exist, they can and should be addressed through targeted policy direction, improved coordination, and appropriate resourcing—not through wholesale reorganization. There is no evidence that collapsing well-functioning organizations into larger regional bodies will enhance service delivery. On the contrary, it will erode local knowledge, dilute accountability, and reduce responsiveness to local priorities.

The proposed regional model is operationally unsound. Expecting a small number of large, watershed-based organizations to effectively serve up to 81 member municipalities is unrealistic. This structure would distance decision-making from local communities, add layers of bureaucracy, and slow approvals rather than streamline them. Far from reducing delays, consolidation would introduce new inefficiencies that directly conflict with the Province’s goal of expediting development approvals.

The financial and operational costs of consolidation would be substantial and unjustified. Merging personnel, integrating information systems, rebranding organizations, and restructuring governance would require significant time and public resources. During this transition, service delivery would inevitably suffer, increasing exposure to flooding, environmental harm, and planning uncertainty. These risks are unacceptable, particularly at a time when climate impacts and development pressures are intensifying.

For these reasons, the Province should immediately pause any further consideration of Conservation Authority consolidation. Instead, the focus should be on strengthening the existing system through a centralized oversight and coordination framework that addresses policy inconsistencies and improves accountability—without dismantling effective local delivery. Additional investment should be directed toward core programs, including permitting and development review, to support timely and informed decision-making.

Any future consideration of structural change must be evidence-based and developed through meaningful consultation with municipalities, Indigenous partners, community organizations, environmental agencies, watershed residents, and Conservation Authorities themselves. Ontario’s environmental protection framework should be reinforced—not weakened—through reforms that recognize the essential role Conservation Authorities play in safeguarding communities, supporting responsible growth, and protecting natural systems.